Menu Planning

School Lunch Tray Menu Planning Tools

Find cycle menus, marketing ideas, and tips for planning menus.
Beans Beans

Find recipes, fact sheets, and other resources to help you and your staff incorporate more beans into the menu.
Collage of fruits and vegetables Fruits and Vegetables

Find tips for preparing, serving, and promoting fruits and vegetables. Quantity recipes using fruits and vegetables are also available.
Market display of fruit What's in Season?

Choosing fruits and vegetables that are in season is a great way to stretch food dollars. View fact sheets, mini posters, graphics, activities, recipes, and more!
School Lunch Cashier Nutrition Standards for School Meals

Through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act championed by the First Lady and signed by President Obama, USDA made the first major changes in school meals in 15 years.
Sodium Reduction

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend reducing daily sodium intake. These resources provides tips to help plan menus with lower sodium.
Commodity food distribution USDA Foods (Commodity) Resources

View fact sheets, program information, resources, and recipes for using USDA Foods.
Whole Grains Whole Grains

MyPlate encourages you to "Make at least half your grains whole grains." Help students meet this goal!
Doctor with child Special Diets

Sections include: Diabetes Management in School and Child Care, Food Allergies, Variations in Meal Requirements / Vegetarian Diets, and Other Special Needs.