McAllen Parents for Healthy Schools

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McAllen ISD Parents for Healthy Schools

Get Involved

We encourage every parent to consistently and confidently use their voice in support of better nutrition for students in McAllen ISD.

Our goals are straightforward, practical, and focused entirely on student health:

Eliminate highly processed foods from school meals.
Remove added sugars from the school environment.
Expand whole foods and increase scratch-cooked meal preparation.

Help us fight to make McAllen ISD the Gold Standard of School Food in Texas.

Reforming School Meals Starts with Incremental, Achievable Change

We are currently requesting that the below products, and products like them, are immediately removed from McAllen ISD breakfasts:

Assorted Cereals (Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms, etc.)
~~Banana Chocolate Bar~~ Eliminated April 2026
~~Blueberry Muffin~~ Eliminated April 2026
Buttery Maple Waffle
~~Cereal Bars (e.g., Lucky Charms Marshmallow Bars)~~ Eliminated April 2026
Pancake Sausage Bites
Pancake & Sausage on a Stick
Pancake Sandwiches
~~Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Goldfish Graham Cracker~~ Eliminated April 2026
Yogurt with Graham Crackers
~~Fruit Juices~~ Eliminated April 2026
Flavored Milk

Email the Decision Makers

The Child Nutrition Department operates under district administration.

District administration answers to the Superintendent.

The Superintendent works at the direction of and is accountable to the McAllen ISD School Board.

And the School Board answers to the community.

Parents and voters are the most important source of feedback the Board receives. When families consistently raise operational concerns, those concerns rise to the top.

Email them all. Here is their contact information:

School Board

aa**********@********sd.net
lu************@********sd.net
el*****************@********sd.net
ro************@********sd.net
er*************@********sd.net
ro************@********sd.net
so*********@********sd.net

Learn more about your school board

Administration

Re************@********sd.net
Lo***********@********sd.net

Learn more about MISD Executive Leadership

Child Nutrition Services

so************@********sd.net
AU*************@********sd.net
S.*****************@********sd.net
JA************@********sd.net

Learn more about your Child Nutrition Department

aa**********@********sd.net
lu************@********sd.net
el*****************@********sd.net
ro************@********sd.net
er*************@********sd.net
ro************@********sd.net
so*********@********sd.net

Learn more about your school board

Re************@********sd.net
Lo***********@********sd.net

Learn more about MISD Executive Leadership

so************@********sd.net
AU*************@********sd.net
S.*****************@********sd.net
JA************@********sd.net

Learn more about your Child Nutrition Department

As McAllen ISD parents, it is our responsibility to respectfully and clearly communicate when change is needed, especially when it comes to the health and nutrition of our children.

Attend Board Meetings

Board Meeting Schedule

Sign Up to Speak

If you are not interested in speaking, we ask that parents attend meetings when fellow parents are scheduled to speak. This will silently demonstrate that the concern is widespread and there is broad support for change.

The Problem

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WhatsApp Image 2026-01-24 at 10.15.29 AM

Right now, ALL McAllen ISD school meals are founded on high-sugar, high-starch, and highly processed products. These foods are well-known to lead to chronic diseases like Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, Cardiovascular Disease, and more.

This is the February 2026 district-wide elementary school menu.

We have highlighted in blue the items that most reasonable people would classify as junk food, fast food, or highly processed convenience food.

Based on a straightforward review of the menu, many of these items resemble packaged retail snacks or quick-service restaurant foods more than scratch-prepared school meals.

Now ask yourself:

Would you choose to serve your child these types of foods every single day?
Would you consider them appropriate staples or occasional treats?

This isn’t about eliminating all enjoyment from school meals. It’s about deciding whether products designed for convenience and shelf stability should be the daily foundation of our children’s nutrition.

Nutrition Labels

These documents were obtained by a fellow parent directly from the school district via a Public Information Request. If you wish to request any information from McAllen ISD, you can do so here.

Breakfast

Lunch

Supper

Snack Bar

Parents Supporting Change

Live Better RGV

Dr. Ken McCleary, a McAllen ISD parent and physical therapist, is helping lead our effort to improve school meals.

He founded Live Better RGV and launched the “Drink Less Sugar” and “Healthy Food 4 Kids” initiatives to promote healthier habits across the Rio Grande Valley. His work includes distributing fresh produce to students and educating families about nutrition, sleep, and overall wellness.

His focus is simple: build healthier children through better daily choices.

Learn More About Live Better RGV

Our Work Doesn’t Stop Here

Removing sugary, dessert-style items from breakfast is only the first step.

We must continue encouraging the district to move away from highly processed foods and toward freshly prepared, whole-food meals that truly nourish our students.

Upcoming Priorities

Prioritize Student Hydration
Many students avoid drinking water because fountain water is unpleasant. We want to partner with the district to install filtration systems at all drinking stations.

Additionally, some elementary students are discouraged from drinking water during the day to reduce bathroom breaks. We believe hydration should be prioritized as a basic health need, and we will work with administrators and faculty to shift this mindset in support of student wellbeing.

Strengthen Physical Activity Opportunities
Elementary students are not receiving adequate time for play and movement. We will advocate for increased recess time and the introduction of short, in-class movement breaks to support focus, physical health, and overall development.

Promote Healthier PTO & Concession Practices
Unhealthy snacks often re-enter the school environment through PTO events and concession stands. We aim to work collaboratively with PTOs to establish clear guidelines that limit high-sugar, high-sodium, and high-fat snacks in favor of healthier options.