Menu Planning

Menu Planning Worksheets

Lunch

• Instructions and example of completed menu planning worksheet
• K-5 Elementary School - 5-day week
• K-8 School - 5-day week
• 9-12 High School - 5-day week

Breakfast

• Instructions and example of completed menu planning worksheet
• Menu planning worksheet for all grades

Weekly Nutrient Calculators

• 5 Day Week

For 6-day and 7-day worksheets and a 7-day weekly nutrient calculator, visit the RCCI webpage

Crediting Basics

• Crediting In a Nutshell
• Weight vs Volume chart
• Crediting Documentation In a Nutshell
• Crediting Decision-Making Tree
• Crediting Coconut, Hominy, Corn Masa, and Masa Harina in the Child Nutrition Programs SP 34-2019, USDA, 08/22/19

Child Nutrition (CN) Labels and Product Formulation Statements (PFS)

• USDA CN Label Reports
• USDA CN Label Resources
• USDA Resources for Food Manufacturers/Industry Includes information on alternate protein products, CN labels with a watermark, a PFS template and sample PFS

• Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
• Navigating the Food Buying Guide Calculator Demo starts at 11 minutes 45 seconds

Portion Size Study

• Portion Size Study Instructions and Template

In-House Yield Study

• In-House Yield Study Instructions
• In-House Yield Study Documentation Template

Around the World in 80 Trays Event Webpage

Recipes

• Serving Up Tradition: A Guide for School Food in Culturally Diverse Communities (Massachusetts Farm to School)
• Multicultural CACFP Recipes (USDA)
• School recipes featuring dairy products (US Dairy)
• Let's Cook Healthy School Meals (Project Bread)
• Back to Basics: Culinary Workshop Recipes (John C. Stalker Institute)

Resources

• USDA MyPlate Graphic (USDA, available in 21 languages!)

• Reducing Food Waste at K-12 Schools - USDA
• Food Waste Activities - USDA
• What You Can Do To Help Prevent Wasted Food - USDA Team Nutrition
• Guidance on the Food Donation Program in Child Nutrition Programs SP 11-2012, USDA, 2/3/12
• For information about sharing/no thank you tables and donating food to charitable organizations, please visit the Food Waste and Donations section of the Food Safety webpage.

• Field Trip Meals Overview
• Bag Meal Order Request Form
• Bag Meal Packing Slip
• List of Students Receiving Reimbursable Meals
• SOP Template – Refer to SOP #32 Field Trip Meals in Site-Specific Food Safety Plan Template 

• Salad Bar Production Records
• Salad Bar Signage
• Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program SP 41-2019, USDA, 09/23/19
• Salad Bar Service Line Options

• Sodium Limits and Timeline
• What's Shaking? Creative Ways to Boost Flavor with Less Sodium (Infographic) - USDA
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Salt Website - CDC

• Smoothies Offered in Child Nutrition Programs SP 40-2019, USDA, 09/23/19
• Crediting Smoothies In a Nutshell
• Offering Smoothies as part of Reimbursable School Meals USDA. Includes sample menus, menu planning ideas, crediting tips and more!

• Vegetarian Recipes from the Let's Cook, Wisconsin School Meals Rock Cycle Menus
• Recipes and Menu Planning - USDA
• Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products SP 53-2016, USDA, 08/08/2016

• ChooseMyPlate - USDA
• Building a Healthy School Lunch Video - Iowa Department of Education
• Healthy Recipes for Schools - Project Bread
• Meal Requirements Under the NSLP & SBP: Q&A for Program Operators Updated to Support the Transitional Standards Effective July 1, 2022, SP 05-2022, USDA 03/02/2022

• Child Nutrition Database (CNDB) is a required part of the nutrient analysis software approved by the USDA for use in NSLP and SBP. The CNDB is now available on Food Data Central.