Creating “recipes for success” is something Russellville City Schools tries to do for students, according to Child Nutrition Program director Elaine Vaughn, and that was the theme for National School Lunch Week, Oct. 9-13.

This week is held in recognition of the National School Lunch Program, which provides nutritionally-balanced, healthy meals to students every day, Vaughn said. Some of the requirements schools have to meet for the program are offering fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods and limiting things like fats, calories and sodium.

“School lunches are healthier than ever,” Vaughn said.

As part of NSLW, Russellville High School invited local firefighters, law enforcement officers and city and county officials to come and enjoy a meal at the school.

Last year RHS held the meal at Thanksgiving, but this year Vaughn said they decided to do it during NSLW.

“The principal wanted it to happen sooner, and the timing worked out great,” she said.

Other special events were also part of celebrating NSLW. Morgan Green, who works with Affinity Group Paramount, visited Russellville Elementary School Oct. 10 and handed out Dole fruit cup samples to children in an effort to introduce more healthy options into their diet, Vaughn said.

Vaughn provided various treats and surprises to the students at West Elementary School during the week.

For students at the high school and middle school, there were gift cards given out to some of the students who ate a school lunch every day that week.

“We want to encourage them to eat the healthy school lunches we provide,” Vaughn said.