Love it or hate it, social media can keep us in the loop. Check out these quick tips for ideas of how to use the platform to benefit your food program. Stay in the Loop MAKING IT EASY TO
works to ensure there are healthy food options for all diners. This is your chance to offer peace of mind to a student with an allergy or dietary restriction. Show the BTS (Social lingo for behind the scenes) of the precautions your team takes to provide safe food, you’re bound to see a boost in traffic. Promote and Educate Share educational content about the nutritional value of different foods. This can include tips for packing healthy lunches or information about the importance of balanced meals and how your program can help make it easy. Use social media to promote special events or theme days in the cafeteria. For example, “Vegetable Day” or “International Cuisine Day.” Build excitement around these events and encourage diners to try something new. People like to see where their food comes from. If any of your items or ingredients are sourced or grown locally, showcase this! Highlighting the use of local vendors can foster community support for your program. Make it Fun Want your target audience to engage! Make it fun and useful. A social platform that offers pertinent info and contests, for example, asking for recipe ideas, will make a big impact.
Stay on Trend Buying data from the nation’s leading food trend experts is expensive. Want to stay on trend and attract diners? Time to scroll! On Instagram Reels or TikTok, spend 15 minutes a week looking for trending flavors, dishes and themes. Recurring flavors may hint at what you should be thinking about for your menus. Want to stay on top of supply trends? Follow the top food distributors on Instagram. They will often share crop reports or pricing trends that might influence your planning.
Currently trending on TikTok: Japan’s Creme Brulee Sweet Potato , we made this and can confirm it is GOOD.
Similarly, use these platforms to follow relevant organizations, associations and leaders in the foodservice industry. Stay in tune with what regulations and best practices are being discussed so that you can be part of the conversation and expand your knowledge. Share Peace of Mind Does your program have social media channels? If not, it’s time to get your accounts going. Use these platforms to share how hard your team
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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