A Fresh Approach to Education

School Food Institute Courses

Who Should Enroll In The Courses?

Whether you’re a school foodservice professional or an advocate pushing for better nutrition for children, at the School Food Institute, you can learn how to make school food fresh, healthy, and sustainable. All of the online courses satisfy USDA professional standards and are focused on implementing and managing a scratch-cook school food operation that provides kids with access to real, healthy food at school every day.

How Will The Courses Teach Me?

Our engaging lectures let you learn at your own pace, and our program includes one-on-one instructor support, helpful resources, real-world assignments, and peer learning and networking opportunities. Learn directly from Chef Ann Cooper, a leader in school food reform and childhood nutrition, and from a broad range of topic experts who are featured throughout the coursework.

What Will I Learn In The Courses?

From procurement to finance, from recipes to marketing, each of our courses helps make nutritious, fresh, sustainable school food a reality. Begin with our foundational course, School Food 101, and continue with the courses that address your particular needs. They all get you closer to earning a School Food Institute Certificate and transitioning school food from highly processed to scratch-cooked.

New! - Plant Forward

Hours: 1.5/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 1000 Nutrition
  • 2000 Operations
  • 4000 Communications and Marketing

New! - Sustainable Lunchrooms

Hours: 2/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 1000 Nutrition
  • 2000 Operations
  • 3000 Administration

New! - Ingredients for Healthier Kids

Hours: 2/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 1000 Nutrition
  • 2000 Operations

School Food 101

Hours: 3/Hrs

Cost: $149

USDA Key Areas:

  • 1000 Nutrition
  • 2000 Operations
  • 3000 Administration
  • 4000 Communications and Marketing

Mission, Vision and Strategic Planning

Hours: 2/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 3000 Administration
  • 4000 Communications and Marketing

School Food Operational Models

Hours: 2/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 2000 Operations 
  • 3000 Administration 

School Food Finance

Hours: 2/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 2000 Operations 
  • 3000 Administration 

Recipes and Menu Development

Hours: 2/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 1000 Nutrition 
  • 2000 Operations 
  • 4000 Communications and Marketing 

School Food Procurement

Hours: 2/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 2000 Operations

Salad Bars in Schools

Hours: 2/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 1000 Nutrition
  • 2000 Operations 
  • 3000 Administration 
  • 4000 Communications and Marketing

Marketing and Lunchroom Education

Hours: 2/Hrs

Cost: $99

USDA Key Areas:

  • 1000 Nutrition 
  • 4000 Communications and Marketing

Get Certified

Complete all eight courses in the series and earn a Gold Certificate!

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Complete School Food 101 and four other courses to earn a Silver Certificate!

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Complete School Food 101 and two other courses to earn a Bronze Certificate!

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