Last Bite the with Chef Sharon Schaefer
SCREENAGERS! Yes, they are still reachable!
Written by a Mom? Yes. Something for Everyone? Also Yes.
Screenagers: How to compete for the attention and support of tweens and teens when their brain is already at FULL media capacity... You may know me as Chef Sharon or as a school nutrition director, but there’s another important job I have too. I’m the mom of 2 teen boys. Between the students I care for at work and the two I have at home I’m constantly looking for ways to reach this food and tech savvy generation. One of the best ways I have found to connect with this age group is by giving them a choice. Tweens and teens are all about defining their individuality and instead of being told what to do they prefer to decide for themselves. This translates well into school nutrition by really working offer vs serve to the max! Techniques as simple as a variety of colorful fruit choices instead of “the fruit of the day” gives our customers the choice they crave. Take that same idea to entrees, by offering a varietyof salsawith your next taco bar or adding a line of interesting sandwiches beside the basic meat and cheese combos. Another technique is to use photos or video to show different combinations
The screenager is also heavily influenced by an extra dose of dopamine. This brain chemical peaks in the teen years and leads to a deep desire to “feel good” and give into impulsive desires. It’s not hard to imagine why YouTube and other influencers can grab their attention and reel them in! There are so many quick ways to recreate that visual GRAB in your school meals programs. . .TikTok, YouTube, and the most popular SnapChat! School nutrition programs can use these platforms to show off menus, special items, staff stories and more. The first step is to download an app or two and explore how they work. Summer is right around the corner and an amazing time to develop content to use throughout the upcoming school year. I know new technology and techniques can feel overwhelming to add to an already much too FULL workload, but if you carve out one - two hours a week during summer months, you will have at least eight hours of content. Snaps and toks (I made that term up feel free to use it) are generally very short so that summer planning would translate into 40-50 clips a month during school months. One thing is for sure, we could all take inspiration in how willing teens and tweens are when embrace new technology. Let’s use that knowledge to help them be just as adventurous in the cafeteria!
3 WAYS
to Trick Your Kids into Eating More Healthful
approach into everything that is involved with meal times will surely give them a better perspective. #2 THE ART OF DISGUISE Parents I have two words for you: breakfast cookie. WHAAAAAT?!? I’m telling you if you make it look like dessert, they will eat it!!! With so many different allergies and dietary needs I am certain that you will find many recipes that work for your family (ahem… Pinterest).Another idea is making smoothies,you can macerate almost anything into a smoothie (where my veggies at?!?) and make it yummy! You can even be extra sneaky and make it creamy and BOOM, a “milkshake”! Bonus: make it into a popsicle…again make it look like a dessert! Win-win! #3 SET AN EXAMPLE You guys…our kids see us. They watch what we do, and they hear what we say. Mine are getting a little older now and sometimes I forget that, and I have learned not to underestimate them. Don’t just tell them why but show them why it is so important to have an active and healthy lifestyle.
Talk about timing! This topic is just in time for April Fool’s Day! Anyone else have super picky eaters?? Is meal time the bane of your existence? Would you rather do almost anything else than sit at the dinner table night after night just to have the same negative experience?!?! Well…SAME!!! Here are 3 ideas that may help meal times become easier… #1 INVOLVE THE KIDS I’m sure this isn’t breaking news to any of you but I’m not just talking about having the kids help with making meals (which truly is a great idea, my kids love to help in the kitchen!) but I’m suggesting involving them in the entire process. Try planning weekly meals as a family. This is a great time to ask them for suggestions for what they would like to eat. DON’T COME FOR ME…but…maybe take them shopping with you. YIKES! I know, but hear me out… Make this an opportunity to teach them how to choose the produce and have them help you find things, make it FUN! I also think having them make their own plates is a great way to let them showcase, on a plate, the product of all that work planning, shopping, and cooking. This behind-the-scenes
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of the same meal. Visually explore minimum requirements vs maximum portion sizes and everything in between.
GO GET ‘EM Mom and Dad, trick them good!!
Resident Chef, NxtGen Network; Owner of Evolution of a Lunch Lady, LLC Director of Food & Nutrition Services, Gretna Public Schools Since childhood Sharon was on a quest to make healthy food taste great! That love of all things delicious led her to The Culinary Institute of America. After completing her externship at The Food Network, Sharon discovered a world of how to share great food through media. Owner of Evolution of the Lunch Lady, LLC, and Director of Food and Nutrition Services for Gretna Public Schools, Chef Sharon Schaefer, SNS frequently takes her culinary chops and K12 experience on the road as a highly sought after Key Note Speaker and school nutrition trainer.
Hi. I’m Stacy. I ammany things, including but not limited to, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a creator, an amazing lip-syncer, an empath, and an overall good time. I have an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and I enjoy painting, photography, drinking wine, eating french fries, and crafting. I have been married for 10 years (cocktail please!!) and together we have made two amazing humans (another cocktail please!!). Our son Anthony (7) and our daughter Sloan (4) have non-stop energy and in the rare instance they are not talking they are eating all the snacks. I am typically the “go-to” person for my friends who are seeking advice, a non-judgmental ear, perspective, a good venting session, or even just a hug (I am also a master hugger). I believe that human connection is of the utmost importance and that kindness is cool.
Sharon Schaefer, SNS
Stacy Cardinale
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