Looking for a little inspiration to help boost your menu? Welcome to our column featuring bites of nutrition knowledge and insight for your team’s menu creation needs | Pisanick Partners Edible Education Slicing up Inspiration for your Menu and More!
WATCH/LISTEN The sound of mixers, the clatter of pans, and the buzz of conversation filled the air as directors, head cooks, and managers from multiple districts gathered in one shared space in a test kitchen. It wasn’t just a cooking day; it was collaboration in action. As part of our new NutriSmart Culinary Training: Cooking and Conversation series, this professional development event brought together teams from across Ohio districts to learn, taste, and grow side by side. Guided by professionals and supported by vendor partners, participants experimented with new products, practiced refined kitchen skills, and tested recipes designed to inspire fresh menu ideas. The test kitchen became a hub of shared learning — where data met dialogue and innovation was sparked through teamwork.
MENU PRO TIP Before digital menu databases, plan- ning school menus was all done by hand. We relied on paper, pencil, and manually created spreadsheets to track recipes, components, and nutri- ents. Now, years later, we have meal planning databases to track menu compliance, calculate KPIs, forecast needs, manage production records, and analyze meals per labor hour for us. It doesn’t just make our menu plan- ning easier - it provides a shared foun- dation of data that empowers school nutrition teams and industry partners to collaborate more effectively. We’ve customized our Health-e Pro Pisan- ick database to its fullest potential, helping schools stay compliant while streamlining menu planning and reci- pe management. Of course, data can tell only part of the story. Menus in one district don’t always translate dir- ectly to another, which is why we work
School nutrition thrives at the inter- section of collaboration, data, and creativity. By bringing together dis- tricts, industry partners, and even stu- dents, we can create opportunities to test new ideas, refine recipes, and in - spire innovation. From hands-on train- ing in test kitchens to leveraging digital tools for menu planning, every step is designed to support both compliance and creativity. Through partnerships and shared knowledge, we help school nutrition programs grow stronger and more impactful for the students they serve. Enjoy some food for thought, curated and ready to serve up some quick and easy strategies for success! READ In a recent NutriSmart Snax podcast interview with Andrew Mendez, Super- visor for Kenston Schools in Bain- bridge, Ohio, shared a “must-read” title - “ The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results” . They had us at the tagline: If you want less on your plate and more for your life and career….achieve better results in less time, dial down stress, and master what matters to you!” We are getting our winter book club on - so should you!!! Love a good quick blog read - check out Pisanick’s own Alana Baun as she shares What School Nutrition Programs Can Learn from the TV Show “The Bear”
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