In 2009, Learning ZoneXpress and MSNA – MN School Nutrition Association partnered with several other vendors to bring about the first-ever EXTREME CAFETERIA MAKEOVER! The winner of this $70,000.00 makeover was Glenville-Emmons High School. Read “How It All Began“.

Recently, at the national SNA’s (School Nutrition Assoc.) annual conference, our Extreme Cafeteria Makeover was highlighted in their “tournament of champions”. 

Accordingly, SNA’s April School Nutrition Magazine mentions: “The Minnesota School Nutrition Association coordinated the first ‘Extreme Cafeteria Makeover,’ bringing together dozens of local and national vendor partners donating equipment, signage, expertise, uniforms and more to overhaul a small district’s cafeteria.”

Extreme Cafeteria Makeover was designed as “A National showcase for cutting edge school nutrition solutions feeding bodies and minds…fueling our future.”

At Learning ZoneXpress we continue to do just that by offering  nutrition education products  to keep our children  healthy!     

BEFORE Extreme Cafeteria Makeover

AFTER Extreme Cafeteria Makeover

Check out the beautiful cafeteria! New floor, newly painted walls, new tables, new serving line, new everything!

Glenville, MN (August 25, 2009) – Owatonna based Learning ZoneXpress (LZE) and the Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) launched the nation’s first Extreme Cafeteria Makeover contest last October to acknowledge the many challenges faced by school cafeterias. Creating a fresh new lunch experience for students is critical to their nutritional needs and to meet the financial challenges of schools. This makeover is now complete and Glenville-Emmons High School would like to celebrate. The community is invited to the unveiling of an extreme cafeteria makeover to celebrate an innovative approach to food service programs.

Not only will this makeover benefit Glenville-Emmons High School cafeteria by providing increased customer satisfaction, food service revenues, efficiencies, expanded healthy menu options and heightened school and community pride but, it will generate expanded knowledge and innovative foodservice solutions for these tough economic times.

“School foodservice directors have a huge job!” said Melanie Nelson, Founder and President of LZE. “The contest was formed because we wanted to support the profession in a creative way…it evolved into an incredible makeover that has the potential to change many lives.”

The makeover contest originally started as a $40,000 makeover but rapidly grew to $70,000 through fundraisers, inkind gifts and investments by community partners. Superintendent Mark Roubinek and foodservice manager, Diane Minear applied for the makeover and unanimously won. Superintendent of Glenville schools, Mark Roubinek is quoted as saying, “The makeover and updating of our cafeteria will infuse a lot of positive energy into the district.”

Come celebrate with Glenville-Emmons High School. This will be a great opportunity to hear what students think about their fresh NEW cafeteria.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
Community Open House
Time: 4:30 – 7 p.m.
Glenville-Emmons High School (230 5th St. SE, Glenville, Minnesota)

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Learning ZoneXpress is the premier source of “edu-taining” and award-winning learning tools. Our mission to our thousands of customers is to design, create and deliver innovative messages on life skills topics including nutrition, child development, family living, character education, and career and financial management. We offer a wide variety of affordable educational DVDs, videos, posters, games, and PowerPoint presentations. Learning ZoneXpress is dedicated to responsive and personalized customer service. For more information about Learning ZoneXpress products, visit www.learningzonexpress.com.

Watch the progression of the floor and wall transformation in the series of photos below.

Londa and I loved Vegas!

This year at the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference (ANC) we met with industry partners to discuss the Extreme Cafeteria Makeover that’s currently underway. More updates will be available on the blog as Londa is heading down to film the progress of the renovation at Glennville-Emmons in Minnesota.

The exhibit hall was packed with attendees! Those who made it to our booth had the opportunity to see our new products – including Foodscapes Decals and bulletin board kits – and picked up a free breakfast poster and Foodscapes postcards.

The TakePart Blog explores many issues like education, health, and sustainability. It’s a great resource for educators like you.