Trends | January 2023

The Gen Alpha generation (born between 2010-2024), which is namely our secondary students, have grown up with technology at their fingertips and have influences that are much more global and diverse than past generations. To keep these students as customers in the cafeteria we need to amp up our menu with these trends and food influences. How can we translate emerging food trends to our school nutrition programs? Strategies like infusing some spicy maple syrup to heat up your chicken and waffles is a way to highlight that trending flavor profile. Kicking up the spice, while diversifying the avenues away from just Buffalo sauce or spicy chicken sandwiches, gives way to trying things like Korean spicy cucumbers or a gochujang drizzle sauce . As a new year begins, think how you might make that traditional “kids menu” a bit different with global flavors and spices. Flavor trends meet healthy new year resolutions in Mediterranean dishes while meeting the goal of elevating taste and purpose into menus this year. Try Something Trending in 2023 Research is in and colleagues in the greater food industry are focusing their attention on emerging trends for 2023!

Who wants some new menu ideas? Thinking about engaging not only your students but the families you serve? Welcome to our column featuring

bites of nutrition knowledge and

insight for your team’s menu creation needs. We love a good theme at Pisanick Partners and have curated and crafted some of our favorite “Harvest of the Month”, “Simply Fresh”, “Global Trends’’, and “Comfort Classic’’ recipes to ignite your team’s idea engines. Our free digital cookbook resource is full of these recipes.

https://youtu. be/7pb2Uw2Lzj0

Meet the Pisanick Partners leadership team (From left to right) Marge Robison, MPH, RDN-LDN Sarah Carlson, MS, RD-LD David Pisanick, Co-Founder, CFO Maureen Pisanick, RDN-LDN Founder, CEO Tina Hastings, Operations Specialist Gina Nash, Operations Specialist (not pictured)

As students look for more meatless options, how about replacing some meat with anything mushroom ? When updating your menu cycles don’t forget the continued shift focused on vegetarian and vegan options in favorite restaurants and cafeterias near you! Driven by student demands for health and eco-friendly cuisine concepts that reveal reduction in carbon footprint or upcycling attributes, now is the time to embrace a menu that rises to the challenge! Scroll social media with a purpose and inspire more meatless opportunities on your menu. Our resident vegan partner shares her top searches for recipe inspiration!

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