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!
Whether it’s eye-catching plating, creative menu names, or fun themed days, small touches can make a big difference in student engagement. In this issue, we’ll explore how presenta- tion, branding, and marketing strat- egies can enhance your school meals, making every tray more appealing and exciting for students - because it’s not nutrition unless they eat it right? Enjoy some food for thought, curated and ready to serve up some quick and easy strategies for success! READ We often think of presentation as how food looks on the tray, but menu presentation is just as important. As the saying goes, “we eat with our eyes first”—and this applies not only to what’s on the plate, but also to how menu items are described. Thought- ful wording can spark curiosity, en- courage healthier choices, and even boost meal participation. Students often make decisions based on the menu before they ever see the food. For example, a dish labeled simply “Potatoes” may be overlooked, while calling it “Oven-Roasted Herb Pota- toes” or “Creamy Mashed Potatoes” makes it sound far more appealing. We love this Smarter Lunchroom Resource , which offers great inspir- ation with creative, fun, and descrip- tive naming ideas to try on your own menus.
WATCH/LISTEN Marketing your menu and school nu- trition program is a great way to con- nect with students, families, and the community. One of the easiest and most effective strategies is capturing and sharing photos that highlight your meals. Here’s how to take eye-catch- ing shots and make the most of social media to tell your menu’s story in a fun and creative way. 1. Set up a food photo station in your cafeteria—perfect for showcasing colorful, well-plated meals, control- ling lighting, and highlighting new or themed menu items. This is a great example from one of our districts, where they creatively used the tools and space available to make it work. Once you’ve captured the perfect photo, incorporate it into your menu and planning tools. We love adding images so that when a student clicks on a menu item, a realistic photo pops up! 2. Then, share your photos on social media! Check out this fun how-to video with tips for creating eye-catch- ing posts that work on Instagram and Facebook alike. Learn how to capture vibrant photos, share behind-the- scenes moments, and tell your menu story in a fresh, digital format.
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