Are you looking for ideas on what foods to offer for your school food program, but not sure where to start with this toolkit? Below is a glimpse of the various information and resources that you can find throughout the toolkit that may be of particular interest to those planning and implementing school food programs.
General Nutrition Information
This page provides lists of ideas of food and beverages to serve frequently, as well as those suggested to serve infrequently and in smaller serving sizes, for each of the food categories. It also includes some tips for meal and snack planning. PDF versions of the Food Lists can also be accessed.
School Food Programs
This section provides 4-week menu plans for breakfast and lunch for 3 different models of programs – for Grab N’Go, Assemble-and-Serve and Cooked-from-Scratch. Choosing an item from 2 of the 3 food categories helps users to create snack plans from the meal plans. PDF versions of the Sample Menu Plans are also available.
Recipes
Here you can find recipes for the meals suggested in the Sample Meal Plans. Find over 35 recipes adapted to yield 50 servings.
Tips for Feedings Kids
Provides information and resources for creating healthy school food environments such as learning more about eating competence and the division of responsibility.
Ideas to Increase Nutrition
This page provides a list of strategies for school food providers to gradually increase the nutritional quality of foods eaten at school.
Food Safety and Inclusion
Food Safety covers common questions regarding food safety permits, food safety training and how to prevent foodborne illnesses.
The Inclusion section provides information and resources to help schools create inclusive food environments that can respond to a diversity of dietary needs, such as allergies and faith-based dietary practices, supporting students with disabilities and diverse abilities and including more Indigenous and cultural foods into school food programs.
External Food Providers
This page provides some considerations when working with external food providers.
B.C. Food
This page provides some helpful links to support increasing access to B.C. Foods in schools.
FAQs
Here you can find answers to commonly asked questions about the content and use of the toolkit.