Launch idea: let students taste-test and vote on new school menu items
USDA's Team Nutrition posted a 'Crunch Time!' taste-test event for middle schools, adapted to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. Nutrition staff serve samples of two to four candidate dishes, ideally before ingredients for next year must be ordered; students vote on a ballot, then name the winning dish, which debuts on the menu as the students' choice. The page cites Loudoun County Public Schools, which sampled more than 40 recipes at a food show with more than 250 participants, and Highline School District, where culinary students and nutrition staff served scratch-cooked dishes to nearly 800 students and gathered feedback.
Why it matters for directors: Student-picked items launch with buy-in, which helps participation and cuts the risk of menu flops. Run one tasting vote before your next ordering deadline and promote the winner as the students' choice.
Original source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration (Team Nutrition) ↗