Some of the food is a little more expensive, but students at Redwood Middle School and within the Saratoga Union School District are eating more nutritious lunches because of some recent changes. The school district is in its first year using Sodexho, the leading food and facilities management services company in North America. District Superintendent Lane Weiss said the change was prompted at the end of the last school year when child nutrition supervisor Anne Berger retired after 15 years.

"We knew that she would be very difficult to replace, but we knew we had to do something with food services," Weiss said.

After researching food services at other nearby schools, Saratoga's school district representatives found that 17 schools in Santa Clara County were using Sodexho.

Sixth-graders Amalie MacGowan and Lauren Kuan said they love the tacos, tamales, enchiritos, chicken teriyaki with rice, hamburgers, cheeseburgers and daily choice of fresh fruit and vegetables. There are also cups of noodles, pizza and chips. But they said soda isn't offered; instead there's milk. Also, if students forget their lunch money, they can get loans. The program is based on an honor system.

"We don't let kids go hungry," Weiss said. "If at the last minute, a child forgets her lunch or wants to buy, she can."

Weiss said they are also trying to meet parental requests for more healthy menu options and more variety. Students have four or five meal options every day instead of just one. But not all students agree the program is completely healthy.

"They are trying to be healthier, but they sell pizza every day," said seventh-grader Jessica Chen.

In addition, Weiss said, the school district is making better use of technology with Sodexho's help. The days of parent volunteers tallying lunch totals with pencils are over. Weiss explained that the school district is moving to a system that allows parents to pay for their child's school lunch through a website at home, and view weekly menu options as well.

Students will receive debit cards that can be swiped at a scanner as they check out, and the money will be deducted from their accounts. Weiss said this alleviates the need for students to have to deal with paying for their lunch with cash and getting change.

"We're catching up to where the rest of the world is," he said. "We're still working on it, with Rick's help, but we've made great strides this year. The menus are up online."

Rick Neel, Sodexho's new food services manager in the Saratoga Union School District, said they currently serve about 107 students every day during lunch at Redwood Middle School. He also said the company is trying to address the school's cultural diversity by having options like rice and corn on the menu.

"Sodexho wants to partner with the community, and we want to provide nutritious meals for the kids," said Neel, who comes to the school district from the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

Neel added that they've named the Redwood Middle School food services area the "Energy Download Zone," and at the elementary schools it's called "Kids Way Cafe." Weiss also said they've seen increases in how many students are buying school lunches this year.

"With more variety, it honors, recognizes and celebrates the diversity of our district," Weiss said.