The Barnesville School District Welcomes New Food Director
Brian Saner has joined Barnesville schools as he provides nutrition, appealing food and culture through the food service company, The Nutrition Group.
The Nutrition Group provides comprehensive food service management for K-12 schools, partnering with hundreds of school districts across several states. The group handles menu planning, nutrition compliance, staffing, food prep and service.
The group’s focus is on providing healthy, appealing meals that meet the United States Department of Agriculture’s guidelines while supporting each district’s unique needs, culture and budget.
What sets The Nutrition Group apart from other services is its hand-on approach, Saner said. The team builds strong relationships with students, staff and administrators to create a positive dining experience that encourages participation and supports student wellness.
Another big difference is the company is responsive at the local level and from upper management, Saner said. The group doesn’t use a one-size-fits-all model but instead customizes its program to fit the Barnesville school district’s specific needs, goals and budget.
As food director, Saner oversees the planning, management and day-to-day operations of the school district’s food service program. This includes ensuring meals meet USDA nutrition guidelines, managing staff, budgets, inventory and compliance with state and federal regulations.
Saner is also responsible for menu development, food safety, training and making sure the group provides meals that are nutritious and appealing to students. He also coordinates with school administrators and parents to support wellness goals and ensure the food program runs efficiently and positively impacts students’ success.
“At the end of the day, my job is to make sure every student has access to a safe, healthy, and enjoyable meal,” he said, “because we know well-fed students are better prepared to learn.”
Saner began his career in food services almost 30 years ago, back then working at a five-star five-diamond resort under a Master Chef (Matthias Radits, CMC). Since, he has worked as an executive chef, corporate chef, food and beverage director and culinary instructor in a variety of resorts, universities, colleges and schools.
“I am still just as passionate about food service today as I was 30 years ago when I first started,” he said.
Saner has had the opportunity to cook for and meet celebrities, presidents, princes, princesses and foreign dignitaries throughout his career. For the past 14 years, he has spent his time working in food service for higher education and this past year he started to work for K-12 food services.
While the Nutrition Group has been partnering with Barnesville Schools since 2019, Saner started serving the district at the end of April and beginning of May last year.
Saner added the program is aimed at supporting Barnesville students’ health, learning and overall school environment.
Some ways the program serves the district is by providing nutritious, student-friendly meals. The group focuses on fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The group also uses tools like digital menus with nutrition info, online meal payments and point-of-sale systems that streamline and improve transparency for parents.
“I look forward to adding some fun new menu items and special events throughout the school year,” Saner said.
Two big plans for this school year from the program include Taking Nutrition Global and Nutrition Expedition.
Taking Nutrition Global, for middle and high school students, is a program where the company is featuring foods from different regions of the world and providing some information about their cultures and what food is eaten in those places. The team chooses a day out of the month that coincides with significant days in the cultures.
Nutrition Expedition, for elementary school, is the same concept but with crafts and more appropriate information for elementary age students.
“It’s a lot of fun for cooks to try new foods, too,” Saner said. “It breaks you out of the mold.”
The group’s Facebook and Instagram pages give more information and updates as to what the team is working on.
“We focus on building real relationships with students, staff, administrators and the community, and that shows in our service …,” Saner said. “Our team helps the district navigate complex regulations, maintain high food safety standards and create meals students actually want to eat.”
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