‘Recipes for Success’ Celebrated During National School Lunch Week

For 55 years, schools have celebrated National School Lunch Week (NSLW) by offering exciting menu ideas to promote the National School Lunch Program, the largest federal child nutrition program in the US.

This year’s NSLW will take place October 9 – 13 and brings together students, teachers, foodservice professionals and school staff from all across the country.  The theme, “Recipes For Success,” encourages schools to share tried-and-true healthy recipes students love, as well as introduce new and innovative recipes!

There are a variety of ways school nutrition professionals are promoting healthier choices and working to mirror restaurant trends to boost school meal participation. Weeks of preparation go into planning celebrations, with many schools incorporating customized, made-to-order options and international flavors on menus.

On Tray Talk, we’re holding contests for parents and the community to celebrate National School Lunch Week! Everyone who signs up to Follow TrayTalk.org between October 7-15 is eligible to win a grand prize worth $200, including a pressure cooker and cookbook, gift card for groceries and a NSLW Recipes for Success prize pack! Plus, check out our weeklong promotional contests on Tray Talk Facebook for chances to win $50 gift cards!

Schools also host a variety of contests during NSLW.  Students can participate in poster designs, which will then be used to decorate the cafeteria; recipe contests, where the winner’s recipe will be included on the regular school menu; parents and guests will join students to eat or serve lunch, including local celebrities, firefighters and other community members.

NSLW is a time to celebrate all of the exciting things happening in school food such increase in made-to-order or self-serve entrée bars, like chicken wing bars, burrito bars, flatbread bars, sandwich bars, pizza bars, rice bowl bars, etc. When students can choose the ingredients to make their own meal, experts say that they often incorporate more fresh fruits and veggies that they will actually consume. Increased scratch preparation has become popular in school cafeterias – from soups to stir-fry and dumplings to lasagna, recipes feature fresh and healthy variety for students.