We’re halfway through the school year and looking forward to flipping the calendar to 2024 in a few short weeks! To add some fun to the mix and to organize ourselves, here are some ways to align your mind to start strong next year. (Don’t skip the fun ones, studies show that playful, rested brains are better at solving problems!) 2024 ALIGN YOUR MIND FOR
account what you have left to accomplish and divide it up between the months left on the school calendar. Be realistic and set goals that matter most to where you are now in the year. If a goal no longer makes sense, toss it out and reset. FUN: BRUSH UP ON THE FOOD Experts like Datassential and Whole Foods release their predictions this time of the year featuring the flavors they believe will be hot in 2024. Give them a quick Google. While trends might not be what you aim to serve in your program, they will spur ideas and give you a pulse on what your diners may be talking about. Also, it’s simply interesting and will add some fun and intrigue to your day!
PRACTICAL: REFORECAST Now is a good time to check in with suppliers and start thinking about next year. First thing to pull: your forecast and how it is actually coming to fruition this year. Having a handle on these numbers will give you the tools needed to negotiate next year’s contract. Need an adjustment for the rest of the year? Now is the time! FUN: DIG INTO A FOOD BOOK You might have some extra time over the coming break. Be sure to set aside moments to relax and rejuvenate. If reading does that for you, here are a few favorite food books as of late: The Upstairs Delicatessen by Dwight Garner, Ever-Green Vietnamese by Andrea Nguyen, The Cookie That Changed My Life by Nancy Silverton, Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food by Fuchsia Dunlop. After reading, you might be inspired to start sharing quarterly writings or recipes via an email blast with families that are a part of your community! PRACTICAL: CHECK IN ON GOALS Do you have goals with each of your teammates? Specific projects you want to tackle this school year? Metrics you need to hit? Time to take into
PRACTICAL RESEARCH FIELD TRIPS
Do you have a great partner in the area? Start planning for an end-of-year field trip. Consider visiting a food manufacturer (We love giving tours!), a field trip to a farm in the spring, or look outside of food and take a trip to your recycling or compost partner for an educational afternoon.
Annelise McAuliffe Soares | Ready Foods Annelise is the Director of Marketing & Brand Stewardship at Ready Foods in Denver, Colorado. Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Annelise has spent her career making sure food sounds appetizing on paper, looks good in pictures and tastes amazing when you order it. Her day-to-day consists of working at Ready Foods to connect food service operators with ready-to-use kitchen solutions that are delicious, not difficult. Her favorite hot lunch in elementary school was always nacho day.
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