VOA常速英语2007-Diverse Student Body Seeks Varied School Menu

By Steve Mort
Orlando, Florida
26 October 2007
 

American high schools are increasingly serving food from around the world in order to keep up with the country's diversifying¹ population. The School Nutrition Association says two-thirds of schools serve Asian food, about a quarter offer Kosher dishes and more than 20 percent sell Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine² to students. The group says food from Latin America is the most popular, with Mexican meals now served in more than 98 percent of school districts in the United States. Steve Mort visited a school in Florida that has diversified³ its menu to meet demand.

Lunchtime at University High School in Orlando. Students here choose from a wide range of international dishes such as lo mein noodles or Montego Bay chicken.

Lora Gilbert is in charge of food and nutrition for the school district. She says, "If you go to the mall and you look around to see where the students are eating -- they're eating at the Asian places and they're eating at the places were they can get a great Caribbean sauce."

A chef hands out samples to University High students. This school, like many others, has carried out detailed⁴ research into student tastes, conducting focus groups to find out what the students like to eat.

Gilbert says she has found that immigrant students want food from their native countries. "Those students brought a lot of those foods over with them, so we're seeing that reflected in what the kids tell us."

In addition to Latin and Asian food, the School Nutrition Association says some cafeterias are adding Indian, Thai and Somali recipes.

Students appear to welcome the variety. Student Samantha Carrions says, "Normally you go to a different school and they're like, 'school lunch sucks.' But this year is truly amazing, I can tell you that."

Another student, Yoel Altomonte, says, "I'm not coming to school and eating junk. I'm having good food and I'm getting what my body needs."

Officials claim success in efforts to cater⁵ to the students' taste for foreign food. Statistics from the school district that includes Orlando show that the consumption of school meals has increased by 10 percent over the last year.

1 diversifying   

v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的现在分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• Some publishers are now diversifying into software. 有些出版社目前正兼营软件。 来自辞典例句
• Silverlit is diversifying into new markets, such as Russia and Eastern Europe. Silverlit正在使他们的市场变得多样化，开发新的市场如俄罗斯和东欧国家。 来自互联网

2 cuisine   

n.烹调，烹饪法

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• This restaurant is renowned for its cuisine.这家餐馆以其精美的饭菜而闻名。

3 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

5 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。