What Can FNS Professionals and Manufacturers Do to Entice Students to Participate in Meal Programs?
Through my work with many K-12 professionals; we can all agree on having two similar goals:
* Generate income and operate as a business in order to maintain and increase revenues; and
* Raise a healthier generation by increasing nutritional awareness and eating the right alternatives
Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” program suggests adding nutrition to school plans and encourages our school chefs to create healthy dishes to help teach students about nutrition.
At the end of the day, schools need to get students into the cafeteria in order for them to consume healthier choices while participating in spreading the message to their peers.
Manufacturer/distributors would love to offer new and exciting options but they don’t know if they will work in the schools, and most importantly will the students purchase and consume them.
Here are a couple of ways that you can introduce students to new options:
* Empower the students to take part in the taste testing process. You can do something simple like having a group of students work with the cafeteria staff to handout samples of new products during lunch. Peer to Peer interaction goes a long way. It will not only build up a positive relationship between the cafeteria staff and students, but it will also establish credibility in your program.
* Encourage vendors to be part of the taste testing process. Who knows the product better than the broker/manufacturer? If a broker/manufacturer comes in to conduct a sampling with the students they can have a dialogue with them and help to debunk any myths. Like is the meat real (This one always makes me laugh)? Students will gain a better understanding of the vendor’s program, offer insights into ways to develop new items, and spread the word to their peers.
Being transparent and forward thinking will gain the respect and alliances needed to raise the bar in any foodservice and nutritional program. What are you waiting for; start doing some sampling today.
Kern Halls, Chief Innovator of Ingenious Culinary Concepts, turns empty dining halls into gold mines of student activity! By seeking out and combining just the right “ingredients” to accomplish what many call impossible: Halls gets students to “want” to dine in your cafeterias!
For his FREE report, outlining Marketing Tips to help you generate additional revenue TODAY, a $197 value, please visit http://www.ingeniouscc.com!
