Food Trends in K-12

The Hottest Foods for School Year 2024/25

FOOD TRENDS IN K-12 The Hottest Foods for School Year 2024/25 IN COLLABORATION WITH

CONTENTS

FOOD TRENDS IN K-12

2024

4 Breakfast Menu Items

Methodology The Institute of Child Nutrition Applied Research Division conducted a Food Trends in K12 online survey in April 2024. The survey included responses from 1,691 school nutrition professionals (directors, managers, staff, chefs, and State agency professionals) from across all US states and territories. Participants were asked to identify foods, flavors, seasonings, sauces and condiments, and dining options currently popular and growing in popularity among students participating in School Nutrition Programs. Participants in this survey were permitted to select multiple items in each category, and the results were ranked according to the frequency of selections. This publication presents a list of breakfast and lunch menu items, flavors, seasonings, sauces, and dining cuisines, ordered according to their rankings. The food trends are organized in descending order, with the top-ranked trend listed first, followed by others in decreasing rank order. This information was derived from the Food Trends in K12: Rapid Response Online Survey Series research project conducted by the Institute of Child Nutrition Applied Research Division. 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 #22-1568.

8 Lunch Menu Items

12 Flavors

16 Seasonings

20 Sauces 24 Dining Cuisines

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DIGIZINE DESIGN BY

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Breakfast Menu Items

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Trending Now WHAT’S CURRENTLY POPULAR

Spiced Apple Parfait Recipe

1. CEREAL

4. YOGURT PARFAIT Options that meet the Yogurt Added Sugars limit are available.

Options that meet the Breakfast Cereal Added Sugars limit are available.

Fun Fruit Breakfast Pizza Recipe

2. MUFFINS

3. DONUTS

5. BREAKFAST PIZZA

Breakfast Muffins Recipe

6. SAUSAGE BISCUIT

Up & Coming Breakfast Menu Items WHAT’S GROWING IN POPULARITY

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YOGURT PARFAIT

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1.

MUFFINS BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE DONUTS OR MINI DONUTS BREAKFAST PIZZA SAUSAGE, EGG, AND CHEESE BISCUIT

Hulk Smoothie Recipe

Breakfast Pizza With Hashbrown Crust

Baking Powder Biscuits

Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffin Recipe

Lunch Menu Items

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Trending Now WHAT’S CURRENTLY POPULAR

Nachos With Diced Chicken

4. NACHOS

5. HAMBURGERS

1. PIZZA

(with tortilla chips)

LUNCH Pizza Crust Recipe 3. REGULAR TOTS OR FRIES 2. CHICKEN NUGGETS/ TENDERS

6. WALKING TACOS (with tortilla chips)

(Buffalo, BBQ, etc.) 7. FLAVORED WINGS

Tuscan Grilled Cheese Recipe

Mashed Potatoes Recipe

8. SANDWICHES

9. MASH BOWLS (i.e., KFC Bowl)

NOTE: To meet weekly sodium limits, incorporate scratch recipes and limit how often high-sodium items are offered.

Up & Coming Lunch Menu Items WHAT’S GROWING IN POPULARITY

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Ginger Citrus Noodle Salad Recipe

Crunchy Hawaiian Chicken Wrap Recipe

2. 3. 1.

NACHOS (with tortilla chips) PIZZA FLAVORED WINGS (Buffalo, BBQ, etc.) CHICKEN NUGGETS/ TENDERS WALKING TACOS GRAB-AND-GO SALADS SANDWICHES HAMBURGERS COOKED MEAT SLIDERS (pulled pork, etc.)

Porcupine Sliders Recipe

5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Flavors

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Trending Now WHAT’S CURRENTLY POPULAR

1. CHINESE

4. YOGURT PARFAIT

(sweet and savory, etc.)

2. AMERICAN (lemon pepper, garlic parmesan, etc.)

3. HOT &

HONEY

4. NASHVILLE HOT

Bok Choy Wrappers Recipe

Flavors Up & Coming WHAT’S GROWING IN POPULARITY

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CHINESE (sweet and savory, etc.) HOT AND HONEY AMERICAN (lemon pepper, garlic parmesan, etc.) NASHVILLE HOT

4. YOGURT PARFAIT

2. 3.

Chinese-Style Vegetables

Seasonings

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Trending Now WHAT’S CURRENTLY POPULAR

1. TACO SEASONING

2. RANCH SEASONING 3. ITALIAN SEASONING

Chili Lime Fruit Salad Recipe (pg. 126)

Looking for ways to reduce sodium?

CLICK HERE to access the free resource “Mindfully Seasoning Your Menu”.

CLICK HERE to access our free Spice Blends Poster. (Includes no salt added recipes for ranch, taco, & italian seasonings)

4. TAJIN SEASONING

5. CAJUN SEASONING

Seasonings Up & Coming WHAT’S GROWING IN POPULARITY

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2. 3. 4. 1. 5.

RANCH SEASONING TAJIN SEASONING TACO SEASONING ITALIAN SEASONING CAJUN SEASONING

6. HOT SAUCE

5. MAYONNAISE

SAUCES

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Trending Now WHAT’S CURRENTLY POPULAR

1. RANCH

DRESSING

2. KETCHUP

7. HONEY

Chicken Sliders With Honey Mustard Aioli

MUSTARD

3. BBQ SAUCE

21 SAUCE

Looking for ways to reduce sodium? CLICK HERE to access the free resource “Mindfully Seasoning Your Menu”.

4. MUSTARD

SAUCES

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Up & Coming WHAT’S GROWING IN POPULARITY

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1.

RANCH DRESSING HOT SAUCE SRIRACHA BUFFALO SAUCE BBQ SAUCE SWEET AND SOUR DIPPING SAUCE MUSTARD

Ranch Dressing Recipe

Dining Cuisine

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Trending Now WHAT’S CURRENTLY POPULAR

1. AMERICAN CUISINE (BBQ, national brands like Pizza Hut)

Beef Tamale Pie Recipe

Barbecued Chicken Recipe

2. LATIN AMERICAN CUISINE (empanadas, tamales, street tacos)

Beef Vegetable Soup Recipe

Spring Rolls Recipe

3. COMFORT FOOD 4. ASIAN CUISINE

(noodle bowls, wraps, Bento boxes)

(soups, potatoes)

Dining Cuisine

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Up & Coming WHAT’S GROWING IN POPULARITY

ASIAN CUISINE (noodle bowls, wraps, Bento boxes) LATIN AMERICAN CUISINE (empanadas, tamales, street tacos) FRESH, LOCAL CUISINE (garden to school, farm to school)

Barbacoa Beef Street Tacos Recipe

AMERICAN CUISINE (BBQ, national brands like Pizza Hut)

Local Harvest Bake Recipe

Sesame Asian Noodle Salad Recipe

Barbecue Chicken or Turkey Salad

FOOD TRENDS IN K-12 2024

Linked Recipe Available

Breakfast Menu Items Currently Popular 1. Cereal 2. Muffins 3. Donuts or mini donuts 4. Yogurt parfait 5. Breakfast pizza 6. Sausage biscuit Growing in Popularity 1. Yogurt parfait 2. Muffins 3. Breakfast smoothie 4. Donuts or mini donuts 5. Breakfast pizza 6. Sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit

Lunch Menu Items Currently Popular 1. Pizza 2. Chicken nuggets/tenders 3. Regular tots or fries 4. Nachos 8. Sandwiches 9. Mash bowls Growing in Popularity 1. Nachos 2. Pizza 3. Flavored wings 4. Chicken nuggets/tenders 5. Walking tacos 6. Grab-and-go salads 7. Sandwiches 8. Hamburgers 9. Cooked meat sliders 5. Hamburgers 6. Walking tacos 7. Flavored wings Dining Cuisines Currently Popular 1. American cuisine 2. Latin American cuisine 3. Comfort food 4. Asian cuisine Growing in Popularity 1. Asian cuisine 2. Latin American cuisine 3. Fresh, local cuisine 4. American cuisine

Sauces Currently Popular 1. Ranch dressing 2. Ketchup 3. BBQ sauce 4. Mustard 5. Mayonnaise 6. Hot sauce 7. Honey mustard Growing in Popularity 1. Ranch dressing 2. Hot sauce 3. Sriracha 4. Buffalo sauce 5. BBQ sauce 6. Sweet & sour dipping sauce 7. Mustard

Seasonings Currently Popular 1. Taco seasoning 2. Ranch seasoning 3. Italian seasoning 4. Tajin seasoning 5. Cajun seasoning Growing in Popularity 1. Ranch seasoning 2. Tajin seasoning 3. Taco seasoning 4. Italian seasoning 5. Cajun seasoning

Flavors Currently Popular 1. Chinese 2. American 3. Hot & honey 4. Nashville hot Growing in Popularity 1. Chinese 2. Hot & honey 3. American 4. Nashville hot

This information was derived from the Food Trends in K12: Rapid Response Online Survey Series research project conducted by the Institute of Child Nutrition Applied Research Division. 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 #22-1568.

TheICN.org

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