Food Trends | June 2024

EDIBLE EDUCATION

Slicing up Inspiration for your Menu and More!

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

cooking, why not step into the digital shoes of your students and explore some of these popular TikTok Food Trends ? With this eye toward TikTok trends, we created a Baked Feta Pasta recipe that was easy to adapt the steps for prep to a school-friendly version. Keep an eye out for food trends that are specific to your geographic region. In our area of Northeast Ohio, famous local hometown chef Michael Symon has used his Mabel’s BBQ restaurant to show cre - ative ways to serve pulled pork. These concepts such as Loaded Pork Tots and BBQ Pork Topped Mac-n- Cheese Bowl have segwayed their way right into the school cafeteria. Another fan favorite native to Ohio is the Buckeye - when it comes to food it’s a delicious combination of chocolate and peanut butter togeth- er! We give homage to this state treat with a Buckeye Smoothie . More excitement is on our local food scene from Cleveland Kitchen with locally made Kimchi that is school creditable. During our Mystery Chef Competition this year we looked to the Pimento Cheese trend from the south to challenge participants to come up with recipes uti- lizing this newer-to-us ingredient.

A s the landscape of school lunches continues to evolve, so do the trends shaping what ends up on students’ trays. In recent years, there has been a notable shift towards healthier, more diverse options, reflecting growing concerns about childhood nutri - tion and well-being. From plant-based alternatives to globally-inspired dishes, this article explores the latest trends making their way into school cafeterias. Enjoy some food for thought curated and ready to serve up some quick and easy strategies for success.

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Ensuring that school nutrition menus stay competi- tive involves juggling various factors such as student preferences, food costs, availability, labor skills, and equipment. The School Nutrition Association’s 2024 School Nutrition Trends Report examines many of these trends. At Pisanick Partners we always have an eye on food trends so that students want to participate in our meal programs, enjoy the foods they are served, and get excited about new menu offerings. The end of the school year and during summer recess presents an ideal time to examine trendy food options for stu- dents as we prepare for the next school year’s menus. With that in mind, consider exploring what’s current- ly popular and emerging as food trends around the world. Spend some time Googling food trends and you will find many great resources such as this 2024 Food & Beverage Trend Report that can provide great in- sights to support food options and contribute fresh perspectives.

Ramen Noodle Bar Day

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Adding “Trend-Watching” to your to-do list can be a flavorful reminder to keep up with the latest in food crazes. Since social media heavily influences what’s

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