Fresh from California: Menu Planning Support Session #4
About this Series
Looking for new ideas for your menus? Over the course of Spring 2022, the Center for Ecoliteracy hosted monthly menu planning support sessions in partnership with LunchAssist for our Fresh from California campaign. These informal group discussions were designed to support school nutrition professionals in plant-forward menu planning. Agendas were centered around local procurement, freshly prepared meals, menu/recipe considerations, navigating special diets, and much more to incorporate fresh fruits, vegetables, and legumes into school menus. Each session is intended for California school nutrition directors and school district menu planners.
About this Session
This session covers how to standardize recipes to meet USDA’s National School Lunch Program compliance and provides tips for running a successful staff and student taste test.
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Slides: Session #4 - Student Taste Testing
Download the Fresh from California: Menu Planning Support Session #4 slides.
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Chat: Session #4 - Student Taste Testing
Welcome! Please introduce yourself by typing your name, position, and where you work into the chat box. Happy Summer! What’s a favorite summer produce item that you serve in your district?
Hi everyone. I’m Karen Brown, creative director, Center for Ecoliteracy.
Kerry Billner, Foodservice Director at Los Gatos Union School District. PLUOTS AND NECTARINES! ?
Welcome! Please introduce yourself by typing your name, position, and where you work into the chat box. Happy Summer! What’s a favorite summer produce item that you serve in your district?
Dylan Hatami, West Contra Costa USD, Nutrition Specialist-Area Supervisor, Plums and White Peaches
Hello I’m Esther Huizar Cafeteria Manager at Oak Valley Elementary School in Tulare CA
Mickinzie Lopez, Co-founder of LunchAssist! I don’t work in a district but LOVE serving salted watermelon to team camps in the summer! (extra hydrating and sweet!)
Kristy LeBoeuf, Kingsburg Elementary School District, Strawberries!
Jill Whittenberg, La Mesa-Spring Valley
Hello everyone, thank you for joining us! Crystal Whitelaw, Program Manager for California Food for California Kids at Center for Ecoliteracy.
Christy Wineman - Supervisor of Food Services at Lucia Mar Unified. Peaches are always a favorite during the summer! Strawberries here on the coast as well!
Hi all, Krysta Williams from the Center for Ecoliteracy. I'm enjoying eating LOTS of cherries with my little kiddo.
Amanda Timar, Nutrition Coordinator, Santa Cruz City Schools
For more general information about special crops, here’s a fact sheet: [link]
pre covid D
Current D
Extra Hands!
labor!
packaging and staffing
staf
Teacher collaboration :)
Coordination with admin/faculty on finding time and people. ?
Time
Feedback from the kids and how to collect it
Getting an accurate result. Kids copying their peers regardless of how they liked the item
That's what I always think! Costco style
Plant-Forward School Meal Resources: [link]
We jus tested yesterday a Brownie Batter hummus and they LOVED it!
We featured 'try-it’ week on Earth Week, and it was successful having kiddos try things like Watermelon Radish and Golden Beets
shameless social media plug, see our Center for Ecoliteracy poster taste test results Instagram @ttusdfood
Oooh amazing - we'll of course be checking that out, Kat! ;)
Brown rice horchata :) was also a big hit
@Ale oh my gosh, you all are doing such cool things!! I am going to have to come by and visit. ?
We used to ask students what the dish should be named! Loved their ideas! Best one ended up as the final title on the menu.
I ask "Would you like to see this on the menu?" "How would you eat it?"
@Kerry I love how you theme that up!
Oooo, I bet the students loved that horchata, @Irlena!
@Ale those are great open-ended questions to ask students!
Thank you!
@Dylan, yes peer influence is REAL. ?
@Ale thank YOU for sharing!
Learn more about the LunchAssist PRO Membership featuring Chefs from Brigaid at [link]
Are you interested in learning more about the LunchAssist x Brigaid partnership? Add your name to the waitlist and you’ll be the first find out more! [link]
Center for Ecoliteracy Resources
Learn more about the Fresh from California campaign: [link]
Sign up for Fresh from California offerings: [link]
Plant-Forward School Meal Resources: [link]
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Thank you @Food-Services-ZR!
No questions- just a big THANK YOU! I was typing so fast to keep up with all the great ideas ?
yes! I just started it last year
Thank you, Kerry! :)
Thank you @Kerry so happy to hear that
? Thank YOU for joining us @Kerry!
I was told not to take away from instructional time, so I plan to do something in the quad (hopefully) once a month :/
during lunch or break
Wow @Ale!!!
That sounds like you put a lot of thought into that. Love it. ❤️
Our Harvest of the Month program has 100 parent volunteers thanks to our partnership with our local hospital Dietitians and their wellness program. parents help taste test in addition to our cafeteria tastings.
That’s incredible @Kat, very strategic way to receive parent support.
Thank you all! These sessions have been helpful.
So glad to hear it @Kat!
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Nothing beats that HV Ranch ?
@Jesssica HA!
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All good feedback!
Thank you everyone!
Thank YOU!
Thank you!
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August 24 2022
