Preparing School Meals

School nutrition programs open the door to increased participation with a new looks and range of tasty and appealing choices.   Here you will find everything you need to stay on the cutting edge of preparing and serving delicious and nutritious meals.

• Online Menu Planning
• School Nutrition Association Recommended National Nutrition Standards (PDF)
• USDA Recipes for Schools
• Fruit and Vegetable Recipe Database (Center for Disease Control)
• 5-A-Day Quantity Cookbook (New Hampshire Team Nutrition)

General Menu Planning Resources

• Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA)
• MyPyramid (USDA)
• Fact Sheets for Healthier School Meals (USDA)
• Memo on Dietary Guidelines and School Meals (USDA December 2007)
• Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
• Menu Planner for Healthy School Meals (USDA)
• Child Nutrition Database (USDA)
• HealthierUS School Challenge (USDA)
• Team Nutrition Resource Library (USDA)
• Healthy Meals Resource Center (USDA)
• Offer vs. Serve Resource Guide (USDA)
• Menu Planning and Preparation Resource List (USDA)

Menu Planning Approaches

Menu Planning Meal Pattern Requirements for School Meal Programs

Traditional Food-Based Menu Planning

• Breakfast Requirements
• Lunch Requirements

Enhanced Food-Based Menu Planning

• Breakfast requirements
• Lunch requirements

Nutrient Standard Menu Planning

• Nutrient Analysis Protocols - How to Analyze Menus for USDA's School Meals Programs (USDA)
• USDA Approved Nutrient Analysis Software
• Required Grade Nutrient Standards for Breakfast
• Required Grade Nutrient Standards for Lunch
• Optional Age Nutrient Standards for Breakfast
• Optional Age Nutrient Standards for Lunch 

Sample Menus 

• Connecticut Cycle Menu
• New Mexico Menu Planning Tips and Cycle Menus
• Mississippi Cycle Menus
• School Menus from Across the Country

Allergy and Special Needs

International Food and Information Council 

• International Food and Information Council 
• “School Foodservice and Food Allergies: What We Need to Know” : A brochure for school foodservice professionals which discusses food allergy management in the school foodservice setting (2004) *
• Kidnetic.com Bright Paper “Kids and Food Allergies: Facts, Tips, and Resources” (also in Spanish)
• Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Module “Understanding Food Allergy: A Primer for Dietitians” 
• Understanding Food Allergy Brochure 

USDA Food and Nutrition Services 

• USDA Food and Nutrition Services 
• Guidance for School Foodservice Staff: Accommodating Children with Special Needs in the School Nutrition Programs (2001) *

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 
• Information on Food Allergens

National Food Service Management Institute 

• National Food Service Management Institute 
• Meeting Children's Special Food and Nutrition Needs in Child Nutrition Programs. A training module designed to help food service assistants understand and to apply the laws and regulations that require accommodations for children with special food and nutrition. (2006)
• Common Substitutions *
  

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network

• Food Allergy and Anaphylxis Network
• Resource List - Downloads: Food Allergy Presentations, Posters, Information Sheets, Brochures, and Allergy Action Plans available in multiple languages
• How to Read a Food Label
• Food Allergy Educational Power points *
• School Food Allergy Action Plans *
• School Guidelines for managing Food Allergies: 2 page document outlining Family, School and Student responsibilities. *
• School Food Allergy Program: Includes a video, EpiPen® trainer, poster, and binder filled with more than 100 pages of information and standardized forms.

Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America 

• Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America 
• Schools “Quick Report Card” for Allergy and Asthma Assessment: Check list with 3 questions on food allergies in schools *

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
• Back to School interactive game for kids
• List of food allergy science projects for kids

American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 

• American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 
• Back to School Checklist 
• Food Allergy Management Tips 

Managing diabetes in school

• Diabetes Care Tasks At School: What Key Personnel Need To Know from American Diabetes Association
• Diabetes Sample School Care Forms Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• Tools to Manage and Prevent Diabetes in Schools from National Association of School Nurses

Celiac Diease

• National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
• Guidelines for Gluten Free School Lunches 
• Celiac Diease and Gluten Free Survival Guide * This guide provides an overview of celiac disease, unsafe ingredients, hidden sources of gluten, specialty gluten free vendors and grocery strores, and replacement suggestions for condiments and everyday foods.
• American Celiac Disease Alliance 
• Model 504 Plan *
• Physician Statement *
• State Information *
• Sample Menu *

* (in Adobe Acrobat format)

Using Commodities

•  USDA Commodity Food Network
• White Paper on USDA Foods (Commodities)
• Commodity Food Facts
• Commodity Resources for School Nutrition Professionals
• Commodity Fact Sheets
• ACDA Handbook for Recipient Agencies, December 2008 
• ACDA Recipient Agency - Distributor Agreement Form 

Food Production

Basics at a Glance (NFSMI) : Poster with recipe abbreviations, equivalent volumes and weights, scoop sizes, pan size/capacity chart, cutting diagrams for portioning, and metric equivalents.

Cooks for Kids (NFSMI) A series of satellite training programs for participants to learn techniques used by culinary professionals in producing high quality foods that are flavorful, nutritious and appealing to kids

USDA Equipment Guide 

School Food Equipment Grants 

FDA Food Code

Building Quality Meals: Standardized Recipes and Portion Control