How Scholarship Prep – Oceanside is Serving Up Healthy School Meals Without a Kitchen

In our recent episode of Cafeteria Confessions, we sat down with Principal Nicholas Sessions and Meal Supervisor Ramona at Scholarship Prep – Oceanside, a public charter school in Southern California doing something extraordinary: feeding over 600 students every day without an on-site kitchen. 

From the outset, Principal Sessions framed their food program as more than just nutrition. “Food doesn’t have to be the thing that makes it so a student can’t be their best self,” he shared. This mindset of removing barriers and showing up consistently for students defines Scholarship Prep’s approach to school meals. 

Universal Meals, Universal Impact 

Located between San Diego and Orange County, Oceanside is a diverse and ever-evolving community. With about 72% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch and many families tied to nearby Camp Pendleton, consistent access to meals plays a vital role. Thanks to California’s universal meal mandate, all students at Scholarship Prep receive breakfast and lunch free of charge. 

“It's fundamentally crazy to me that it's not just universal meals everywhere,” said Sessions. “People need to eat. It's not realistic to say we're going to help kids achieve academically without validating that they need food.”  The impact? Kids show up ready to learn. “There's no questions ever asked. Like, oh, why do you need a meal? It's like, no. You need a meal even if you ate earlier. Have some more food.” 

Parents have embraced the shift too. “I've never had any family complain like, wow, I really wish we weren’t getting this free food,” Sessions said. “It's money going to something that does directly benefit everybody—the kids, families, everyone.” 

A Meal Program Without a Kitchen? No Problem. 

Operating a school meal program without a kitchen requires creativity, coordination, and a lot of planning. Meals are prepared off-site by a vendor, Top Notch Catering, and delivered daily. Ramona, the school’s meal supervisor, plays a key role in managing orders and making sure kids receive meals they enjoy—favorites include Mamma Mia pasta, chicken nuggets, and tamales.  “I order the meals every Wednesday. Breakfast is delivered the day before, and lunch comes that morning,” Ramona explained. “We pick options that the kids enjoy.” 

While the school doesn’t have a kitchen to cook or reheat meals, they make it work with thoughtful planning. “We’ve grown by over 120 kids since last year,” Sessions noted. “We had to make our master schedule work around when food arrives. That consistency really matters.” 

Recycling and Food Waste Reduction: A Daily Habit 

Scholarship Prep is also modeling sustainability. Under California’s recycling mandate, the school has implemented a three-bin system during lunch—for food waste, recycling, and trash. Surplus food is donated to the adjoining parish, reducing waste and feeding others in need. 

“We try to encourage the students to get up and put their leftovers where they go,” Ramona said. “They love to help. They’ll walk around asking, ‘Are you going to eat that?’ and help clean up.” 

These habits are carried home, too. “My kids go here, and at home they do the same thing,” Ramona shared. “I hope the students are doing that at home, because it becomes a routine.”

Lessons in Leadership and Logistics 

For Principal Sessions, managing the meal program has meant building food service into the school’s core operations. From scheduling around deliveries to managing unique facility challenges, such as vacating the cafeteria for Friday bingo, food service is treated as a foundational part of school life. 

His advice to new school leaders? “It has to be a focal point,” he said. “Have a vendor who really works with you. You don’t want food sitting around. Kids need to eat on time.” 

Final Bite 

At Scholarship Prep – Oceanside, school food is about more than filling stomachs. It’s about creating equity, reducing shame, supporting academics, and building lifelong habits. Even without a kitchen, they’re proving what’s possible when you lead with intention and heart. 

As one student put it simply, “Lunch is free. That helps the kids in need.” 

Listen to the full episode of Cafeteria Confessions to hear from Principal Sessions, Ramona, and the amazing students of Scholarship Prep – Oceanside: https://www.sfwgroup.org/podcast/episode-06.