Traditional Foods in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is home to indigenous and traditional foods from many cultures. The USDA and DPI encourage the service of these foods in the USDA School Meals Programs. Traditional foods increase program participation, fruit and vegetable consumption, and students' knowledge and awareness of the food and culture Wisconsin has to offer! Below are resources to support the incorporation of traditional foods.
American Indian Traditional Foods
American Indian traditional foods are those that have been traditionally prepared and consumed by an American Indian nation. The following are examples of common, traditional foods in Wisconsin that may be served in USDA School Meals Programs:
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Berries (cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, strawberries)
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Bison
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Fish (walleye, sturgeon, trout, salmon)
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Maple syrup
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Potatoes
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The Three Sisters (corn, beans, and squash)
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Wild rice
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Venison
American Indian Traditional Foods in USDA School Meals Programs: A Wisconsin Farm to School Toolkit
In 2016, DPI's School Nutrition Team was awarded a USDA Support Services grant to increase the utilization of traditional foods in school meals programs. Through this grant, the following resources were developed for school nutrition professionals:
Nutrition Education videos:
Some wild rice and maple syrup footage and imagery appear through kind permission of Wisconsin Public Television.
Additional Resources
- DPI American Indian Studies Program webpage
- Native Farm to School Resource Guide - First Nations
- Indigenous Farm to School Programs: A Guide for Creating a Farm to School Program in an Indigenous Community - First Nations
- Something Special From Wisconsin
- Child Nutrition Programs and Traditional Foods, TA 01-2024, USDA, 11/01/23
- Service of Traditional Foods in Public Facilities, SP 42-2015, USDA, 07/31/15