Providing healthy meals to students and staff at K-12 schools is important. Having the right combination of nutritious and appealing options can help keep everyone alert while also helping to make sure meals are being eaten. Also as important - making sure school cafeterias are keeping up with current food trends. Let's take a look at how the top food trends in 2024 will impact a variety of aspects in the school foodservice industry.
Plant-Based Options
In overall education, eco-consciousness now plays a significant role. Students are aware of the challenges they’ll face as adults in a world with climate change and are interested in sustainable living – and dining habits. They want to play a part in a brighter, more active future for humanity.
Reducing carbon footprints and eco-awareness are popular trends among young people involved in cultural movements like Solarpunk. Schools can appeal to students to support their focus on climate change and eco-friendliness. Students can reduce their carbon footprint by switching to plant-based food options.
Schools in California are beginning to set the low-carbon meal to be seen among other school trends. To support alternative dietary choices for students, school cafeterias should consider serving brands that provide palatable options, like Deeply Rooted, purveyors of meatless protein crumbles and meal kits, and Heinz NotCo, a partnership that reimagines some of Kraft Heinz brands as plant-based options.
These dietary changes aren’t just part of the latest school trends. While only 15 percent of Americans have a fully vegan or vegetarian diet, incorporating plant-based options into meals is an upward trend. In fact, over half of consumers eat a meal without meat at least once per week. The plant-based food market is growing, and cafeterias need to serve the preferences of the students seeking these diets.
Global and Ethnic Flavors
As schools become more aware of and sensitive to various students’ ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, school trends reflect the menu serving the needs of all students. Food-based, cultural sharing can go a long way to make students from different cultures feel more comfortable in their school cafeteria.
Focus on Health and Nutrition
Getting kids to eat healthy meals is a significant challenge for parents and school cafeteria administrators, especially when they’re accustomed to the standard chicken nuggets and mac and cheese meal options. With busy parents dealing with a strained economy, kids can often lean towards selecting sugary options. However, nutrition is essential. It's proven that alternative food options that are tasty will be eaten by students. Which in turn helps decrease their chances of obesity and other health issues.
Snack Variety and Healthier Options
But it's not just about breakfast and lunch. In some school systems, kids are provided snacks, either in the middle of the day or as part of the before and after school programs. These options need to be healthy, easy to eat, and appealing all at the same time. Fortunately, there are many healthier snack options that will work with any school’s K-12 menu.
Customization and DIY Stations
Worried about picky kids or those who have specific dietary needs? The best way to ensure students eat a healthy meal is to help them personalize it. Maybe they want to leave out the carrots while embracing their love of broccoli. DIY food stations, like buffet or salad bars, can give children more agency in their food selections while helping administrators save on costs.
Overall, 2024 school trends for cafeterias indicate a focus on nutrition, diversity, snacks, and self-service. Now is the time to ensure you have the right food to meet students' dietary needs.
It's easy to find the right foods for your K-12 school cafeteria from Total Source:
