Creative food mix for all ages Natalie Bryslan, BS Creative food mix for all ages

Overview Nutritional needs of your school’s age group(s) Tailor food items to the pallet of your school’s age group(s) Same ingredients, various menu options. Fruit and vegetable options to different age group(s) Naming menu items

Age group specific nutrient standards Look at the calorie, saturated fat, and sodium ranges for the grades you will be serving There may be some really great items you want to serve your students but they nutritionals do not fall within these ranges. Nutrient Standards Grades K-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12 Calories 550-650 600-700 750-850 Saturated Fat <10 % <10% Sodium (mg) <1,230 < 1,360 <1,420

Evaluate your age groups pallets Elementary students tend to gravitate towards the “finger foods” (i.e. chicken nuggets, corn dogs, hot dogs, and pizza) Middle school students are influenced by what their friends eat. If they don’t know what it is, they are very unlikely to try it. Stick with items they know (i.e hamburgers/cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and pizza) High school students like the “grab n’ go” foods that are similar to items they can get at a restaurant or a fast food place. Branding is very important to this group

Food trends When creating menu items for all of your age groups think of the foods that are ‘in’ right now. Local foods Plant-based protein foods Street tacos Spicy foods “Farm to table” menus Scratch-made condiments Vegetable carb substitutes

Activity You are processing diced chicken for the next school year. How many different menu items can you come up with that would be appropriate for elementary, middle, and high school students? Don’t worry about nutritionals for the sake of the activity.

How many did you come up with? Chicken enchiladas Chicken quesadillas Chicken pot pie casserole Chicken noodle soup BBQ Chicken tostadas Chicken alfredo pasta Chicken tortilla soup Chicken lettuce wraps Chicken nachos Chicken tacos Teriyaki chicken tacos Baja chicken tacos Korean chicken tacos Buffalo chicken tacos Thai chicken tacos Honey chipotle chicken tacos Chicken taco salad Chicken burritos Chicken salad sandwiches Chicken posole

Activity You are using ground beef for the next school year. How many different menu items can you come up with that would be appropriate for elementary, middle, and high school students? Don’t worry about nutritionals for the sake of the activity.

How many did you come up with? Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes Cheeseburger Burrito Meatloaf Beef tacos Beef burrito Shepherd’s Pie Crunch Wrap Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese Meat Sauce Spaghetti Lasagna Hamburger stroganoff Sloppy Joes Patty Melt Hamburgers Jalapeno Cheddar Burger Cowboy burger (onions and mushrooms) Bonsai Burger (teriyaki sauce and pineapple) BBQ Onion Ring Burger Double Patty Burger Southwest Burger Avocado Burger Breakfast Burger

Fruit and vegetables Age specific eating obstacles Options Braces Missing/loose teeth Age group dexterity Options Salad bar for high school More varied fruits and vegetables for high school Three bean salad, roasted chickpeas, fresh pineapple, etc. Familiar fruits and vegetables for elementary/middle school Oranges, apples, applesauce, baby carrots, celery, broccoli, etc.

Naming and branding Elementary Middle and High School Creative, fun and descriptive names Examples: Apple Crunchers Cauliflower Clouds Celery Swords Kickin’ Chicken Nuggets Mama’s Marvelous Meatballs Outrageous Oranges Galaxy Pizza Rockin’ Raisins Big Bad Bean Burrito Middle and High School Focus on similar names fast food restaurants use; these are the products they’re geared towards Examples: Supreme Burrito (Burrito Supreme from Taco Bell) Crunch Wrap (Taco Bell) Deluxe Burger (Wendy’s) Jr Hamburger (Wendy’s) Cheesy Cheddar Burger (Wendy’s) Chick-n-Strips (Chick-fil-a) Original Double Burger (Dairy Queen) Buffalo Chicken Snack Melt (Dairy Queen)

Resources https://www.smarterlunchrooms.org/scorecard-tools/creative-fun-and-descriptive-names https://www.smarterlunchrooms.org/scorecard-tools/print-your-own-smarter-lunchrooms- signs-and-labels http://www.cde.state.co.us/nutrition/menuplanningrecipes