Manor ISD’s Fresh Texas Flavors Take Center Stage on Local News
Eat Real has landed in Texas — and Manor ISD is helping us lead the celebration.
Located just northeast of Austin, Manor Independent School District serves 9,658 students. As one of the first districts in the state to partner with Eat Real, Manor ISD is reshaping what school food can look like for kids in Texas.
At the heart of it all is Ryan Cengel, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, who shares a vision that is ambitious and celebratory of the work already underway. Cengel doesn’t just lead a team, he invests in them. Whether it’s team training at the Culinary Institute of America or taking a visit to local partner farms and bakeries, his team is learning, tasting, and bringing new inspiration to their kitchens.
Cengel and team visiting Farm Share Austin, a local organization providing hands-on courses on how to run a farm.
Looking ahead, the team is excited to expand scratch cooking, deepen relationships with local producers, and build menus that truly reflect what students want to eat. Because for Cengel, the cafeteria is more than a place to grab lunch — it’s a classroom.
“The cafeteria should remain a learning place — taste and flavors should be an extension of the classroom.”
— Ryan Cengel, Food Service Director at Manor ISD
Students enjoy Texas classics like kolaches, charro beans, and scratch-made salsa that bring comfort and culture to their tray. Kolaches, in particular, are a Central Texas staple with deep roots brought by Czech immigrants. With fillings ranging from local strawberries to savory chorizo, they’re a go-to breakfast favorite.
Scratch made salsa made for students — a great source of fresh, local produce!
It is this exact scratch cooking and local sourcing that Cengel hopes to expand on throughout his Eat Real certification journey, a vision he recently shared while being featured on KVUE ABC in Texas. Proud to be one of the first to begin in the state, he emphasized the broader impact of the initiative, saying:
“I’m hoping that school districts across Texas are going to take advantage of this opportunity. I think it’s going to be beneficial not only for our students, but for students across the state.”
Being featured on KVUE ABC is an exciting moment — and a well-deserved spotlight on the passion, creativity, and hard work this team brings to their kitchens every single day. It’s powerful to see a local district celebrated in such a big way, and even more exciting to watch Manor ISD lead the charge for what’s possible in school food across Texas.
Watch the full KVUE ABC segment here:
Want to bring Eat Real to your Texas school district? Reach out!
