Blog
Follow the ABCs of School Nutrition blog to see what school nutrition programs in Illinois are doing and get new ideas! Here we will talk about everything from Illinois State Board of Education updates to food waste prevention strategies.
Have an idea for a blog post? Drop us a line at schoolnutrition@illinois.edu .
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Published: April 16, 2023Top tips to celebrate staff every dayRegular thank yous go a long way when promoting a positive workplace!
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Published: April 9, 2023Make it count by getting SMART with staff recognitionUse the SMART acronym to make the most of your thank yous!
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Published: April 1, 2023Reduce turnover, improve morale with a staff recognition programIf you’re a manager or director, you may be thinking about how to thank staff for their hard work this school year. We think that’s a great idea!
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Published: March 13, 2023Cycle menus offer big benefits for school nutrition programsMenu planning can be a real challenge, especially if you’re writing menus on a month to month basis. Why consider transitioning to cycle menus?
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Published: March 9, 2023Tweak the menu for strong meal participation until summer's out!Spring is just around the corner, and soon the school year will be winding down. How can you keep students interested in school meals?
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Published: March 6, 20235 easy last-minute ways to celebrate National School Breakfast Week (March 6-10)!Get in on the fun for National School Breakfast Week (NSBW)!
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Published: February 22, 2023A "Second Chance" at breakfast can make all the difference for hungry studentsSecond Chance breakfast is a great option for students who miss out on traditional cafeteria breakfast or simply aren't hungry earlier in the morning.
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Published: February 21, 2023Three big concerns with Breakfast in the Classroom and how to address themLet’s talk about the elephant in the room with Breakfast in the Classroom. Teachers and administrators are often resistant to starting a BIC program. Why is that?
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Published: January 25, 2023Think outside the cafeteria for school breakfastTraditional cafeteria breakfast programs are always an option, but alternative service models are a great addition if you have the capacity.
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Published: January 13, 2023Demystifying the math of culinary conversions (part 2!)See how to use dimensional analysis to scale up a recipe and make adjustments based on the measuring equipment you have.
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Published: December 13, 2022Demystifying the math of culinary conversionsDo you struggle with math in the kitchen and get confused with tablespoons, cups, pints, and quarts? Learn the skill of using "dimensional analysis" to make conversions easy!
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Published: December 7, 2022Master your measurements to bake up success in the kitchenIf you’ll be baking in your home kitchen this holiday season, why not make the most of it and brush up on your math skills?
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Published: November 29, 20224 ways to send 2022 out on a high note (and get students excited for school meals in 2023!)December is just a few days away - can you believe it? Even if your menu is already set for the last few weeks before the holiday break, there’s still time to add extra sparkle and cheer to the cafeteria.
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Published: October 22, 2022Smart Snacks: Does my item meet the nutrient standards?Once you have determined if your item is a snack or entrée, you can refer to the right nutrient standards.
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Published: October 15, 2022Smart Snacks step-by-step: Is it snack or entree?So your item meets the Smart Snacks general standards – now what?
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Published: October 8, 2022Smart Snacks step-by-step: Start with the general standardsSmart Snacks can get a little complicated, so let's take it step by step.
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Published: October 1, 2022Whether you're new to school nutrition or more seasoned, start smart with Smart SnacksThere’s much more to school nutrition than what’s served on the tray. One thing’s for sure – there are a lot of rules to remember! Whether you’re new to school nutrition or more seasoned (wink), a refresher is always a good idea.
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Published: September 23, 2022Communication is key for share table successCommunication is essential for making your share table a success. How can we reach all groups and individuals who interact with the share table to keep it running smoothly and safely?
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Published: September 16, 2022For smooth sailing at the share table, think through the detailsAs you’re thinking about what share table model will work for your school, consider more detailed logistics to make the share table run smoothly.
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Published: September 9, 2022One-way, two-way, hybrid: Share table types and the flow of foodIt’s easiest to think about share tables in terms of the flow of food and how items are placed and taken – can it go one way or back and forth?
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Published: September 2, 2022Tackle food waste, feed hungry students with a share tableWhile it’s best to tackle food waste on the front end with good menu planning and procurement, some waste can be inevitable.
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Published: August 19, 2022Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): The building blocks of HACCP-based food safety plansStandard operating procedures, or SOPs, are a major component of the food safety plan.
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Published: August 5, 2022HACCP: An essential alphabet for food safety in school kitchensDid you know that children are considered a vulnerable population when it comes to food safety? Schools participating in federal Child Nutrition Programs are required to have HACCP-based food safety plans.
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Published: July 22, 2022What makes a reimbursable breakfast?We recently reviewed what is needed for a meal to be reimbursable. In particular, we got into the details for school lunch. What makes a reimbursable breakfast?
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Published: July 7, 2022What makes a reimbursable lunch?Reimbursable meals are the (whole grain) bread and butter of school nutrition programs. If you're new to school food service, this post is for you!
