By Vinnie Kape Registered School Dietitian Utica Community Schools “ Eat real food.” This simple three-word message reflects not only the content of the latest dietary guidelines, but also its form. The 2025–2030 guidelines were published in just ten pages, making them more accessible to the average American than any prior edition. Alongside the document, officials released a new visual: an inverted food pyramid emphasizing proteins, dairy, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables

On a sunny Friday in late September, the Avondale food service department, led by Chartwells Food Service Director Megan Haase, hosted a special farmers market event for the district's 297 fifth-grade students. The event took place at the Avondale Schools Administration Building and was attended by students, parents, teachers, and administrators, all eager to learn about and celebrate fresh, local Michigan produce. The students arrived by school bus for this very special fiel