K-12 School Food Trends (List)

It’s not too early to start planning for the 2021-2022 K-12 school year menus. While students are enjoying their summer vacations outside, school foodservice directors are hard at work prepping for breakfast and lunch menus in school districts all over the country.

To help with some ideas and inspiration, we’ve collected various articles and resources for K-12 foodservice trends that will prove useful, whether you are a foodservice buyer for schools or just curious to see what’s in store for the upcoming school year.

What kids are looking for on menus (Chartwells K12):

Ideas and inspiration that schools and institutions are already implementing for in-person lunches (Food Management):

A school food buyer’s guide to vegetable requirements and qualifications (USDA):

How schools are incorporating more creative plant-based options for their students (Chartwells):

How Southwest Foodservice Excellence is trailblazing the continued use of food trucks, coffee shops, kiosks and c-stores for remote meal pickup in addition to school meal programs post-pandemic (Food Management):

Gordon Food Service’s “4 Tips on Becoming a Better Buyer for Your School Lunch Program”:

Impossible Burgers approved for several school districts (Engadget):

And finally, just for fun – A history of school lunch programs from the late 1800s to now (Stacker):

Ready to try some of our school-ready products? Contact our sales team and request samples today! Or Ask Our Chef about how you can incorporate plantains into your school breakfast and lunch menus.

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Traditionally, plantains and yuca must be peeled, sliced, and cooked prior to consuming. Here at MIC Food® we are helping chefs, restaurants, industrial kitchens, retail brands, delis, and others in the food industry rethink their menus and increase appeal among ethnic and mainstream consumers alike. We provide variety of tropical fruits and vegetables that come peeled and cut, ready-to-heat and serve, saving you hours of prep time so you can focus on what matters the most: Making Every Meal Memorable.

Come visit our booth this month at these regional School Nutrition Association shows!

  • June 20-22, 2021: Henry B. Gonzalez Center – San Antonio, TX
  • June 22-23, 2021: Koury Convention Center – Greensboro, NC
  • June 27 – 30, 2021: Kalahari Resort & Casino – Wisconsin Dells, WI