Recipes & Menus

Recipes and menus are the heart of school food change. Our recipes have been developed by school food professionals, kid-tested, and perfected in school kitchens.

The recipe search is powered by Horizon Software International’s K–12 software, which provides The Lunch Box with a recipe interface that is easily recognizable to the K–12 user and ensures compliance with USDA regulations. Head over to the Recipes section to start exploring!

What is Scratch Cooking?

There are many definitions of scratch cooking (and types of school meals in general!), but for us, scratch cooking means school districts cooking their own meals and incorporating whole, fresh ingredients, rather than pre-assembled or processed meals and meal components.

What is Scratch Cooking?

There are many definitions of scratch cooking (and types of school meals in general!), but for us, scratch cooking means school districts cooking their own meals and incorporating whole, fresh ingredients, rather than pre-assembled or processed meals and meal components.

Recipes

All our recipes are generated specifically for school kitchens, tested in cafeterias, and kid-approved. Each recipe is analyzed for the USDA meal components, and easily adjusted to fit any portion quantity.

Recipes

All our recipes are generated specifically for school kitchens, tested in cafeterias, and kid-approved. Each recipe is analyzed for the USDA meal components, and easily adjusted to fit any portion quantity.

Menu Development

When we change from ready-to-heat foods to fresh foods in the context of menu planning, letting go of prior presumptions is important. Determining the amount of choices and how many per each age group are examples of menu planning challenges. Efficient, fiscally sustainable scratch-cooking programs are reducing choices in favor of fresh flavors.

Menu Development

When we change from ready-to-heat foods to fresh foods in the context of menu planning, letting go of prior presumptions is important. Determining the amount of choices and how many per each age group are examples of menu planning challenges. Efficient, fiscally sustainable scratch-cooking programs are reducing choices in favor of fresh flavors.

Menu Cycles

The breakfast and lunch cycles provided here are currently in use in Boulder Valley School District. They are offered along with downloadable USDA verification worksheets and nutritional analysis.

Menu Cycles

The breakfast and lunch cycles provided here are currently in use in Boulder Valley School District. They are offered along with downloadable USDA verification worksheets and nutritional analysis.

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