Flavor Forward | 2025-26

Preparation Techniques

Breakfast Menu Items Top 5 Menu Items 1. Cold Cereal Top 5 Prep Techniques 1. Serving fresh, local foods 2. Speed-scratch cooking 3. Heat and Serve 4. Serving regionally inspired foods 5. Scratch cooking

Linked Recipe Available

Lunch Menu Items Top 5 Menu Items 1. Chicken Nuggets/tenders 2. Pizza 3. Hamburger 4. Nachos 5. Tacos

Flavor Profiles Top 5 Flavor Profiles 1. American 2. Spicy 3. Hispanic 4. Italian 5. Chinese Seasonings Top 5 Seasonings 1. Taco 2. Ranch 3. Garlic Powder

2. Cinnamon Roll 3. Breakfast Pizza 4. Donuts 5. French Toast Breakfast Fruit Top 5 Fruit Items 1. Bananas 2. Apples 3. Strawberries 4. Oranges 5. Applesauce

Lunch Fruit Top 5 Fruit Items 1. Bananas 2. Strawberries

3. Apples 4. Grapes 5. Mandarin Oranges

4. Italian 5. Onion

/Mandarin Oranges

Sauces Top 5 Sauces 1. Ranch Dressing 2. Ketchup 3. BBQ Sauce 4. Syrup 5. Mayonnaise

Breakfast Vegetables Top 5 Vegetable Items 1. Potatoes 2. Carrots

Lunch Vegetables Top 5 Vegetable Items 1. Corn 2. Potatoes 3. Carrots 4. Cucumbers 5. Broccoli

3. Salsa 4. Corn 5. Cucumbers

This information was derived from the Food Trends in K-12 Schools Participating in National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs 2025-2026 research project conducted by the Institute of Child Nutrition Applied Research Division at the University of Southern Mississippi. This project was funded using U.S. Department of Agriculture grant funds. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. The University of Southern Mississippi IRB Protocol #25-0149.

TheICN.org

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