Ramblings of a lunchlady...no institutional whites and support hose in my kitchen.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Feed Your Own Kid!
While I love feeding the youngsters in my school, I'm not about to look a gift snow-day in the mouth. So here I sit on my couch, wondering what I'll do with all of the items I pulled out of the freezer to thaw for this week.
You're a trooper! Being a lunch lady is tough. I worked "behind the scenes" when I was in high school and those women are tough cookies. I'm thinking about going back to the cafeteria to help build up mine and my husbands savings and wanted to know some of the pros and cons. What is a typical work day like for you?
Well Nicole, I head into work around 6:30 and make my schedule for my employees for the day. Most of my staff arrives around 8:00 am and begins prep work. We actually cook from scratch in our kitchen, meaning we use raw meats and vegetables, prepare our own sauces, and bake our own rolls. I have 6 positions in my kitchen: cashier, first server, second server, floater, dishwasher, and backup. One person will work their position for an entire week before rotating. The daily assignments vary: you might be preparing baked spaghetti, wedging oranges, or making fresh salads. We prep until 10:30 and then we sit together to eat lunch as a team. This gives us time to "socialize" as well as discuss any issues or ideas that may have come up in the kitchen. We serve the children from 10:55-12:55. I firmly believe in treating every child with respect because they are our paying customers, but we also have fun with our students. I want the lunchroom to be a fun place to be. At 12:55 we start cleanup and my staff is out by 2:00. I work until 3:00 doing all my paperwork and I also conduct tours and "talks" in the kitchen for the students as well. The pros are the students, the hours, the holidays, the people you meet, and the benefits most school systems offer ALL employees. The cons are that it is hard work. It is hot in August, September, April, and May. It is cold in December, January, and February. You are on your feet most of the day. We lift heavy loads daily. We have to wear ugly hairnets (lol). And sometimes, nutrition staff members do not get the respect they deserve from the rest of the staff. But, it is a job that I love and I can't imagine not being with school nutrition. I'm finishing up my Bachelors in Accounting and then I'll be going for my Masters in Education because my goal is to be a director of school nutrition. I started this job for the benefits and developed a passion that grows with every passing year. I hope this answered your question! Let me know if I can help you in any way.
You're a trooper! Being a lunch lady is tough. I worked "behind the scenes" when I was in high school and those women are tough cookies. I'm thinking about going back to the cafeteria to help build up mine and my husbands savings and wanted to know some of the pros and cons. What is a typical work day like for you?
ReplyDeleteWell Nicole, I head into work around 6:30 and make my schedule for my employees for the day. Most of my staff arrives around 8:00 am and begins prep work. We actually cook from scratch in our kitchen, meaning we use raw meats and vegetables, prepare our own sauces, and bake our own rolls. I have 6 positions in my kitchen: cashier, first server, second server, floater, dishwasher, and backup. One person will work their position for an entire week before rotating. The daily assignments vary: you might be preparing baked spaghetti, wedging oranges, or making fresh salads. We prep until 10:30 and then we sit together to eat lunch as a team. This gives us time to "socialize" as well as discuss any issues or ideas that may have come up in the kitchen. We serve the children from 10:55-12:55. I firmly believe in treating every child with respect because they are our paying customers, but we also have fun with our students. I want the lunchroom to be a fun place to be. At 12:55 we start cleanup and my staff is out by 2:00. I work until 3:00 doing all my paperwork and I also conduct tours and "talks" in the kitchen for the students as well. The pros are the students, the hours, the holidays, the people you meet, and the benefits most school systems offer ALL employees. The cons are that it is hard work. It is hot in August, September, April, and May. It is cold in December, January, and February. You are on your feet most of the day. We lift heavy loads daily. We have to wear ugly hairnets (lol). And sometimes, nutrition staff members do not get the respect they deserve from the rest of the staff. But, it is a job that I love and I can't imagine not being with school nutrition. I'm finishing up my Bachelors in Accounting and then I'll be going for my Masters in Education because my goal is to be a director of school nutrition. I started this job for the benefits and developed a passion that grows with every passing year. I hope this answered your question! Let me know if I can help you in any way.
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