Customer Service Meets Hot Lunch Duty

Anyone selling a product or setting up shop will tell you times are particularly tough when it comes to winning over customers these days. Customer service is more important than ever as I learned during my recent adventure into Hot Lunch duty.  

I was on active bagel, hardboiled egg, and yogurt parfait duty – the “fill” if you will for kids who did not take the main protein, starch or vegetable. Yes, just like a business “build it and they will come” …not so on this hot lunch duty day.  

I was in work-mode mindset so I was ready to deliver and close the deal on every plate that went by without the proper food groups represented. I had dutifully loaded all the cups with yogurt and filled them with granola “parfait.” But alas, the customers walked by without so much a look when I hollered out “hardboiled egg, bagel, yogurt parfait.”  

There’s nothing worse than watching a customer walk by especially when they are barely ten and holding a plate with an apple slice on it. I was confused at first; my section was laid out perfectly “well merchandised” and I looked as hip as any mom there. By the end of the first lunch shift I still had 50% of my inventory on the tray, and the lunch duty director was less than thrilled.  

I assessed my situation and remembered a few rules-of-thumb with customers: make it quick, convenient, and clear. I questioned what kid had time to crack, peel and eat an egg when there were dodge ball, 4-square, and volley ball to play during lunch. And did I really believe kids knew what “parfait” was?  

Second shift began and as the first child without the proper food groups represented came by, I said “Hi, would you like your vanilla yogurt with or without granola?” “With granola please,” she said. Most kids like granola but have no clue what parfait is. “Clear message,” check.  

I was ready for the next child without chicken on his plate, “Peeled and ready egg,” I asked. “Okay,” he said. “Here’s your bagel and cream cheese, and yogurt with granola?” “Without please,” he said. “Quick and convenient,” check.

 Lunch service was over and I had just one item left. I graciously offered a teacher walking through the lunch room, “Yogurt Parfait? …It’s low-fat and organic?” She smiled and accepted enthusiastically, “Absolutely.”