Cape district sees major increase in school meals served

Cape Henlopen School District nutrition staff dished up some good news at a Jan. 22 school board meeting: The number of meals served to students has skyrocketed this school year thanks to a national program called the Community Eligibility Provision.

“We’ve had increases that have really blown our minds,” said Stacy Davis-Smith, the district’s Child Nutrition Services department supervisor.

The Community Eligibility Provision, which is meant to improve students’ health and academic success by providing free and nutritious meals, was enacted in the Cape district in early September 2025.

In the first month alone, district nutrition staff served 25,333 more reimbursable meals than they did in the same period last school year, said Davis-Smith. This equals a 31% increase. They also served 27,504 more non-reimbursable meals.

In total, 134,748 meals were served in September.

The increases were largely thanks to alternative breakfast models, like grab-and-go breakfast and breakfast in the classroom.

No data was presented for subsequent months at the meeting.

Cape nutrition leadership, district programs

Cape currently has the highest participation of any district in Delaware School Nutrition Association leadership, with four nutrition staff members on the 24-person board of directors.

Davis-Smith is one of the four, serving as the board’s president-elect.

Across the state, there are 1,079 members of the DSNA, comprising 41% of the entire Northeast Region of the National School Nutrition Association.

“This strong representation underscores Delaware’s influential role in shaping school nutrition across the country,” Davis-Smith said.

DSNA members participate in legislative action conferences in Washington, D.C., and school nutrition industry conferences nationwide. 

“We’re able to bring back the best in nutrition innovation to our state and to our district directly,” Davis-Smith said.

The district is adjusting to some federal changes, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s newly revised food pyramid, which puts a greater emphasis on whole foods and shifts overall nutritional priorities. 

Within the district, there are various programs to support students’ nutrition, including one that gives all elementary students access to fresh fruits and vegetables two to three days a week.

In December, the district launched a new supper program. As long as there are academic programs running in the buildings, staff can serve supper to any students who are there in those buildings, including athletes who are there after school.

To reach more students, Davis-Smith said the department ordered three vending machines to be placed in the district’s middle schools. Students will be able to simply punch in their student number to access a free meal.

The vending machines, which are set to be delivered by the end of this school year, will be stocked daily with fresh meals, cooked and prepared by school cafeteria staff.

“Our team members are committed to doing whatever it takes for the students to get fed, especially if they worry about that evening time,” Davis-Smith said.