Schools Don’t Let Fall Break Sideline Lunch Week Celebrations
Fulton County Schools in Atlanta (GA) didn’t let their Columbus Day holiday break get in the way of celebrating the importance of National School Lunch Week (NSLW). Even though schools were closed October 9-13, Fulton County honored NSLW October 16-20 with a whole week of exciting events and school meals. Roughly 7.9 million healthy school lunches are prepared for more than 91,000 Fulton County students each year.
“School lunches are healthier than ever, with more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and less fat and sodium,” said Alyssia Wright, executive director of the district’s School Nutrition Program. “National School Lunch Week helps us educate parents and students about all the benefits of our lunch program, and the appealing choices we offer.” Read more…
Special Guests Serve Up Meals During National School Lunch Week
This year’s National School Lunch Week (NSLW) theme, “Recipes For Success,” encouraged schools to share tried-and-true healthy recipes students love, as well as introduce new and innovative recipes to school menus. Each day, parents and special guests joined students to eat or help serve lunch – local celebrities such as firefighters, superintendents, teachers, local government officials and coaches helped spread the lunchroom love in cafeterias across the country! Read more…
Scratch Cooking in Schools, Just Like Mom Used to Make
Celebrating one of the great new trends in school cafeterias, National School Lunch Week (October 9-13) is highlighting the incorporation of scratch cooking to lunch menus! As part of the “Recipes for Success” theme, we’re featuring delicious looking scratch recipes, like a Hearty Vegetable Soup from a Texas lunchroom and a homemade Arroz con Pollo and Gazpacho Soup dish from a cafeteria in Vermont on the blog and on Tray Talk Facebook. Read more…
Whole Grains Take Over School Menus
We’re kicking off National School Lunch Week (October 9-13) by celebrating all of the great recipes and creative ways schools have added whole grains to menus! We’re featuring a Chicken Alfredo Pasta from a Minnesota lunchroom and Mexican Rice Bowl from a Florida cafeteria here on the blog and on Tray Talk Facebook. Read more…
‘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.
International Flavors Hit School Cafeterias
Following hot trends in restaurants, schools are incorporating foods with bold, fresh international flavors onto their menus. In particular middle and high school students, with ever-changing palates, are increasingly interested in and exposed to a wider selection of ethnic meals. Read more…
Taking Cues from Restaurants, Schools Offer Build-Your-Own Lunch Options
As students enter middle school and high school these days, their pallets are typically more sophisticated – they’re looking for bold flavors with their own favorite ingredients.
To mimic the success and appeal of made-to-order restaurants like Quizno’s, Panera and Chipotle, school nutrition professionals have taken a healthy approach to offering customizable school meals. In Rochester, NY, area schools have created themes and options for “make your own” bars where students can choose from a variety of healthy options. Read more…
Celebrating National School Lunch Week
National School Lunch Week provides schools and students the opportunity to learn more about the healthy changes made in the cafeteria. Often celebrated with events, special guests, custom menus and nutrition education activities, the purpose remains to help educate students, parents and communities about the nutritional value of school lunch.
At Ritenour School District in St Louis, MO, new vegetarian entrees were introduced and taste tested by high school students during National School Lunch Week (NSLW). Spicy Black Bean Burgers with Sriracha Ketchup were sampled along with Sweet Chickpeas with Brown Rice. Read more…
National School Lunch Week
Learn more about school meals and how cafeterias are marking the annual event with special menus, student samplings, farm-to-school events, guest lunch servers and more!
