matter. The USDA’s Back to School Toolkit offers ready-to- use graphics and sample posts to highlight the benefits of nutritious meals and engage audiences across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. In addition, the Institute of Child Nutrition’s (ICN) Utilizing Community
Leading with Confidence and Impact Strong leadership—both in the kitchen and beyond—amplifies impact. School nutrition professionals rely on effective management and leadership skills to guide teams, solve problems, and inspire excellence. The ICN’s Child Nutrition Leadership site offers up-to-date, high-quality leadership resources, while the School Nutrition Foundation’s LEAD to SucceedTM Initiative supports school nutrition professionals seeking to learn, educate, advance, and develop within the field. Measuring Success Beyond the Meal In today’s evolving school nutrition landscape, success is measured not only by meals served but by relationships built, challenges overcome, and advocacy for student well- being. With creativity, effective communication, and strong leadership, school food service heroes are ready to lead the next chapter of school nutrition excellence.
Partners and Social Media
Innovation on Every Tray Every tray reflects innovation. From menu planning to student engagement, school nutrition professionals continuously evolve to meet the needs of those they serve. With the right tools in social media, marketing, and leadership, these teams can strengthen their programs and amplify their impact. Using Social Media to Tell Your Story Social media is a simple, low-cost way to promote school meal programs and build relationships with students, parents, caregivers, and community partners. Sharing photos of healthy meals, highlighting staff achievements, or showcasing student involvement helps tell the story of why school meals
worksheet provides practical guidance for using social media to strengthen connections and increase engagement. Marketing School Meals with Purpose Marketing matters because it supports participation, builds trust, and increases community awareness of school nutrition programs. The ICN’s Social Media Marketing for School Nutrition Programs training introduces key marketing concepts and strategies tailored to school food service operations. Another valuable ICN resource, Utilizing the Cafeteria as a Classroom , equips professionals with tools to promote healthy menu options, engage families, and position the cafeteria as a learning environment.
Looking for More Support? Visit theicn.org to access ICN’s trainings, resources, and tools. Questions? Contact the ICN Help Desk via email at helpdesk@ theicn.org or by phone at 1-800- 321-3054.
ICN Website
Molle Polzin, RDN | Institute of Child Nutrition Molle Polzin is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with more than 26 years of experience in community nutrition, public health, and training coordination. As an Education and Training Specialist II with the Institute of Child Nutrition, she applies instructional design principles to create engaging, evidence-based nutrition resources and training for child nutrition professionals. Molle is dedicated to promoting healthy eating and supporting educators in creating meaningful learning experiences while ensuring children receive safe, nutritious meals.
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