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 .
-
Published: November 6, 2024Add more scratch cooking to the menu for holiday-like magic all year roundThere's nothing quite like a special, home-cooked meal to warm you from the inside out. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, now is a great time to think about adding more scratch-made items to the menu and keep the magic going!
-
Published: October 22, 2024Infused water stations: Easy combos to hit the ground runningNeed recipe ideas for your infused water station? Look no further!
-
Published: October 10, 2024Infused water stations: Start with the basicsInfused water is a great way to increase student engagement and support school wellness. Use these tips to get started!
-
Published: July 22, 2024Resource Roundup: Communicating with FamiliesBack to school season is upon us, and there's no better time to make a marketing and communications plan for the year!
-
Published: April 2, 2024Top tips to make your taste test a hitTo make your taste test a hit, make sure you have plans for logistics, marketing, and evaluating your hard work.
-
Published: March 18, 2024*Try* a taste test to promote healthy eating and get the most out of your menuChildren are naturally picky eaters, but the cafeteria can be a place for them to experiment with new foods and expand their palates.
-
Published: March 5, 2024Brewing up bubbles with fermented drinksBubbly beverages have made their way to the mainstream. Are fermented drinks on your radar for a la carte drink options?
-
Published: February 5, 2024Resources galore for NSBW 2024!This year's theme for National School Breakfast Week (March 4-8) is "Surf's Up with School Breakfast" - are you ready to "hang ten"?
-
Published: December 7, 2023Want students to eat more of their meals? Try these policy and environmental updates.We know policy changes can be challenging, but scheduling tweaks can make a big difference with how much food is eaten.
-
Published: September 9, 2023Deconstruct tasty treats for parfaits that work for grab-and-goGrab and go inspiration from colleges? Why not!
-
Published: August 18, 2023Marketing the flavor station makes for success -- here's how to do itYou've set up your flavor station. Now what?
-
Published: August 9, 2023Don't be bland! Tips for stocking and maintaining your flavor stationWhat can go on a flavor station? Not just herbs and spices!
-
Published: July 20, 2023Looking to spice things up in the cafeteria? Try a flavor station!Flavor stations have many benefits for schools -- but what exactly is a flavor station?
-
Published: July 12, 2023Celebrate holidays and theme days to ramp up excitement in the cafeteriaCelebrating holidays and theme days is a great way to get students excited to be in the cafeteria!
-
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?
-
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)!
-
Published: November 29, 20224 ways to send the year out on a high note (and get students excited for the post-break menu!)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.
-
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?
