Powered by School Food Professionals

Crafted by California’s School Food Professionals, chosen by you! Vote for your favorite recipe and shine a spotlight on the innovative work of School Food Professionals across the state. The Powered by School Food Professionals Awards is shining a light on K-12 public school food programs that go above and beyond to provide better meals for kids across California. Voting for the Community Choice Recipe is now open until December 20th. Barbacoa by Live Oak School District Japanese Katsu Curry by Cupertino Union School District Crispy Kimchi Chicken Sandwich by Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Thai Basil Lentil Burger by San Luis Coastal Unified School District Taco Pasta Bolognese by San Francisco Unified School District  Kickin’ Kiwi Chicken Chili Verde by Marysville Joint Unified School District Select your winning recipe today: https://lnkd.in/emuGng6Z 

This week, we’re sharing our gratitude for California’s School Food Professionals cooking up healthier, tastier meals for over 3 million students. It takes serious skill to work in a school food program. School Food Professionals must be trained in evolving federal nutrition standards, food safety requirements and culinary techniques for high-volume cooking — not to mention knowing how to manage complex inventories, source local ingredients and develop good and good-for-you recipes. See what it takes to cook for student success: https://lnkd.in/eq3iEMZ3 

Four bean chili and cornbread, Greek chicken drumsticks and flatbread and bean, and cheese pupusas are just a few of the delicious items on the menu this month at Mount Diablo Unified School District. The district in Concord, CA has long been a leader in shifting to healthier, scratch-cooked school meals using local ingredients. Food & Nutrition Services Director Alexandra Emmott and Center for Ecoliteracy Executive Director Alexa Norstad recently talked about the benefits of the district’s farm to school programming with KRON4 Digital: building lifelong healthier habits, learning about food systems and the environment, and — of course — incorporating fresh and local produce into school meals. Watch the full video: https://lnkd.in/eKun8xmM 

Submissions are still open for the Powered By School Food Professionals Awards! School Food Professionals working in a California K-12 public school food program are invited to submit recipes from their program for the chance to receive national recognition and win exclusive prizes across six categories: Best Original Recipe Best Scratch-Cooked Adaption Best Farm to School Recipe Best Take on a Culinary Trend  Best Culturally Relevant Recipe Community Choice Recipe Submit your entry today or share with a school food program who should: https://lnkd.in/emuGng6Z Submissions close December 1, 2024. 

How does the third-largest school district in California provide nourishing, delicious meals for thousands of students each day? It takes a team of skilled School Food Professionals including nutritionists, chefs, bakers and site managers who coordinate a complex process with recipe-testing, local ingredient procurement, project management and more. See how Fresno Unified School District cooks up fresh meals by the thousands in our newest Food for Thought: https://lnkd.in/eDsidSgh 

We’re pleased to announce the Powered By School Food Professionals Awards! This competition celebrates the work of California’s teams of School Food Professionals leading the movement for fresher, healthier meals and more scratch cooking in school food programs across the state. Professionals working in a California K-12 public school food program are invited to submit their teams for an opportunity to receive national recognition and win exclusive prizes. Submissions for six categories are open starting today and are due by December 1st. Enter today: https://lnkd.in/emuGng6Z

School Food Professionals are putting success on the menu for California’s students. With students consuming more than a third of their daily calories at school, it’s crucial that school meals support their physical health, mental health and classroom performance! Explore how better school food supports student success in our new Food For Thought: https://lnkd.in/eC4VHPgv

For over 60 years, people across the country have been celebrating National School Lunch Week and the impact of healthy school meals on student wellbeing and success. One thing is clear: delicious, healthy meals start with the School Food Professionals who make them. Curious about what it takes to put together a great school lunch? Understanding federal nutrition standards, culinary skill and creativity are just a few pieces of the puzzle. Learn more in our latest Food for Thought: https://lnkd.in/eCgDVRrB

Thanks to District Chef RJ Lane and his team, students at West Contra Costa Unified School District are eating meals made with the same high-quality ingredients that are used in some of the best restaurants in Napa Valley.  “I talk to people all the time who tell me they wish their district could do what we’re doing here, I tell them to keep advocating for it, because there’s change coming. Here in California, the whole state is moving toward better and scratch-cooked food.” – RJ Lane, West Contra Costa Unified School District RJ spent 25 years working in the restaurant industry before deciding to switch to school food. He was inspired to reduce waste and cook more from scratch using local ingredients, and that’s exactly what he’s done at West Contra Costa in Richmond, CA. Learn more about his work: https://lnkd.in/g6GmF6qG

Happy National Farm To School Month! Across California, School Food Professionals are partnering with local farms like Old Grove Orange to bring the freshest, ripest ingredients to students. But that’s not all! Farm to school partnerships also support local farmers and economies, teach students about agriculture and gardening and build more sustainable food systems. The state of California and its School Food Professionals have a strong commitment to the growth of farm to school programs. Since 2020, the state has invested over $100 million to support and expand access to these programs. Learn about the positive impact of farm to school programs: https://lnkd.in/exKF2UEA