JUST IN TIME FOR PLANNING YOUR SY25/26 MENUS
Meet your new favorite day of the week!
Get ahead of the trend AND grow participation with this NEW promotion - our toolkit has everything you need! Mushrooms were named a “top ingredient” in the National Restaurant Association’s 2025 “What’s Hot Culinary Forecast.”
What is a Mushroom? As we begin a new unit related to nutrition, your child will be exploring Mushrooms. Your child will focus on learning about mushrooms, identifying mushrooms, learning about how healthy mushrooms are to eat, tasting mushrooms, and using mushrooms. Join us on that journey as you review what your child learned and how to extend that learning at home. Family Guide
• Delicious, school- friendly recipes students will love • Ready-to-use marketing and merchandising materials • Sourcing tips, step-by-step planning guide, plus more!
What is a Mushroom A mushroom is a fungi but closely resembles vegetables. Types of Mushrooms White Button Portabella Oyster Beech Crimini Lion’s Mane Shitake Extended Learning For a fun activity, the next time you go to the grocery store, try these activities Merchandising & Marketing Materials Read About Mushrooms Suggested Readings to share with your child: • Mighty Mushroom & Friends • The Magnificent Mushroom by Meredith Hansen Favero • A Walk Through Mushroom Town by David Aaron Charpentier Nutritional Mushrooms Mushrooms are great because they are a superfood and available all year. They are lowcalorie, fat-free, and contain more than 12 vitamins and minerals. For mushroom tips and recipes, check out the Mushrooms in Schools Blog at https://www.mushroomcouncil.org/category/schools/ Follow us on Facebook @MushroomsInSchools To download these materials, visit our Mushroom Monday webpage . • Encourage your child to look at the mushroom selections and see what types they can identify. • Purchase a type of mushroom and give it a taste test as a family. Use descriptive words to talk about the texture, taste
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Press Release
Template Press Release
Use the following template press release as a foundation to earn media coverage for your participation in Mushroom Monday.
The press release could focus on: - Special events you are coordinating to kick off and celebrate Mushroom Monday - Any menu features, specials or promotions you are holding for Mushroom Monday We encourage you to edit and share with local restaurant/food media – from traditional media to local social influencers – as well as local TV news stations that feature in studio cooking segments.
Social Posts Toolkit Meet Taco Tuesday’s Next-Door Neighbor: Mushroom Monday What’s that you ask? Mushroom Monday is a day each week when we can all gather around the plate to enjoy one of the most delicious, nutritious and Earth-friendly foods: the fresh mushroom. No matter your school’s capabilities, no matter your students’ tastes, Mushroom Monday is for you and your district! FOR K12 SCHOOLS Remember to use the hashtag #MushroomMonday and tag us! @MushroomsInSchools on Facebook and @MushroomsK12 on X/Twitter. Here’s What’s on the Menu! Add your menu items here Mushroom Entrée Sides Vegetable Fruit Milk Choices USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
For additional media outreach inspiration, please contact the Mushroom Council’s PR team at edavis@curiousplot.agency or 612.202.9407
[SCHOOL/DISTRICT NAME] CELEBRATES MUSHROOM MONDAY WITH [INSERT DESCRIPTOR]
[CITY/STATE] [DATE] – Taco Tuesday has a new neighbor. Introducing “Mushroom Monday” at [School/District Name].
Every Monday beginning [insert date], [School Name] is set to delight and inspire its students with “Mushroom Monday,” featuring new specials on its popular mushroom-centric dishes, including [list menu items].
It's part of a movement underway in which schools nationwide are setting aside a special day each week to celebrate the mysterious and delicious mushroom.
[Insert descriptors of feature dish(es) and/or descriptor of Mushroom Monday promo etc.].
Why mushrooms? Not only are they among the trendiest foods nationwide , they are nutritious and the most sustainably produced food . Plus, with distinct umami packed varieties ranging from button to shiitake to lion’s mane, they are among the most flavorful and versatile ingredients in the kitchen. “We love crafting dishes with fresh mushrooms – their hearty taste and satisfying texture elevate every dish every time,” said [name, title, school]. “We invite everyone to join us in celebration of Mushroom Monday – a perfect weekly meetup with extraordinary flavor.”
[insert addition district information about the chef/director and school/district, including its website and social handles].
# # #
Photography: [include links to images of your Mushroom Monday dishes]
Contact: [insert name, email and phone of appropriate media contact]
MUSHROOM MONDAY | mushroomcouncil.org/school-nutrition/marketing-support/mushroom-monday
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Brought to You by The Mushroom Council
MUSHROOM MONDAY | mushroomcouncil.org/school-nutrition/marketing-support/mushroom-monday
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Score Mushroom Monday Swag for Your Celebration! Tell us when you’ll be hosting your Mushroom Monday promotion this fall and you could win Mushroom Monday swag and marketing materials for your staff and students!
Here’s What’s on the Menu! Add your menu items here Mushroom Entrée Sides Vegetable Fruit Milk Choices
Date:
Name:
Mushrooms Farm-to-Plate!
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
*Raffle items subject to change and availability, image for illustrative purposes only
© Mushrooms in Schools
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Enter the Mushroom Monday raffle by August 1 st for a chance to win a swag kit! Read full rules and submit your entry on our website .
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