Celebrating Diversity with Salad Bars in Fairfax County Public Schools

Inside Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Virginia, a culinary revolution is underway. At the forefront is Shaun Sawko, the district’s dynamic new Food Service Director alongside the amazing FCPS food service team. With a wealth of experience drawn from his time working in school food service in the Montgomery Public Schools in Alabama, DC Public Schools, and Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida, Shaun brings a fresh perspective to the table.

For the first time starting this year, salad bars are now available at all 198 schools in the district, thanks to the Salad Bars to Schools Program and Whole Kids for funding 105 of these salad bars over the last six years. To elevate the salad bar experience, FCPS is pioneering some unique approaches. Introducing themed salad bars adds a creative twist, featuring a variety of vegetable slaws and alternative bases for salad mixes. Emphasizing inclusivity and education, the district is broadening its protein offerings. Legumes such as lentils and chickpeas are now featured daily on the school salad bars. 

“I love what I do because it’s not just about treating diseases; it’s about prevention. School food is the nation’s largest prevention initiative, offering an incredible opportunity to impact students and prevent chronic diseases for decades.” — Shaun Sawko

“We’re trying to educate students around the importance and variety of legumes, but this also supports inclusivity. They meet Halal criteria. They meet kosher criteria. They meet vegan criteria. So now our students who do practice any of those dietary preferences or cultural preferences can all participate in the salad bar and get a full reimbursable meal.” — Shaun Sawko

Sawko also envisions a future with daily hot vegetarian entrees and a focus on plant-based options. FCPS is breaking new ground through impactful initiatives like the Student Food Show and rigorous recipe testing. The Student Food Show serves as a dynamic space for exploring diverse culinary traditions. During this event, which was held for the first time last month, students actively engaged with a wide array of global cuisines, fostering a deeper connection to their own cultural backgrounds and were provided with opportunities to submit feedback to the food service team through an online Google Forms survey. 

“The most impactful moment I had during that food show was a student who said, “Oh my God, this is Korean. I’m Korean. This is me!” And I just stopped right there. And I was like, that’s the whole reason why we want to do this.” — Shaun Sawko