School Food 101

Associated Courses

$149.00

Course Length: 3 Hours

Course access lasts for 12 months from purchase for all individual courses and Certificates.

School Food 101 provides the overview and context of the operational demands of school food and the urgency of school food change. Participants will gain foundational knowledge about school food history, regulations, policy, and funding that will support informed advocacy for healthier food in schools.

Category: SKU: 7012M000001VvxT

Description

Course Description

School Food 101 provides the overview and context of the operational demands of school food and the urgency of school food change. Participants will gain foundational knowledge about school food history, regulations, policy, and funding that will support informed advocacy for healthier food in schools.

We’ll explore the ins and outs of school meal program operations, from procurement and finance to lunchroom education and human resources, including the primary challenges that school food programs face today. We’ll discuss the benefits of scratch-cooking in schools and the opportunities for overcoming these challenges and implementing changes that support fresh, healthy food for kids in school every day.

You’ll leave this course with an understanding of how school food operates, and how a healthy school meal program can play a role in social justice issues for kids across the nation.

To enroll yourself, simply add the course to your cart and check out.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand the current and historical guidelines and regulations of school food and how school food legislation is developed
  2. Understand the process for developing a wellness policy that articulates your vision and supports sustainable change in your school meal program
  3. Explain the essential elements of school meal program operations, including production models, facilities, and procurement practices, and how they differ in a scratch-cook model
  4. Understand the financial structure of school meal programs and the challenges associated with school food revenues and expenses
  5. Understand the challenges and opportunities of recruiting and retaining employees in school food that can sustain a scratch-cook model
  6. Understand the benefits of scratch-cooking with recipes and identify ways to implement changes in your school meal program that support fresh, healthy food for kids every day
  7. Communicate the vision for your school meal program through lunchroom education and marketing to the broader community
  8. And ultimately create a school meal program that has a positive impact on our children’s health and social justice

USDA Codes

  • 1200
  • 1320
  • 2200
  • 2400
  • 3400
  • 4100

Course Outline

  • Course Introduction
  • The Health of America’s Children
  • The History of School Food
  • School Food Guidelines and Regulations
  • Mission and Vision
  • School Food Operational Models
  • School Food Dollars and Cents
  • Labor in a Scratch-Cook Model
  • Scratch-Cooking with Recipes
  • School Food Procurement
  • Salad Bars in Schools
  • Marketing and Lunchroom Education
  • Social Justice