The Lunch Box

Welcome to the largest online resource for scratch cooking in schools! A program of the Chef Ann Foundation, this site features step-by-step guides, tools, and other resources to help schools improve their meal programs and convert to scratch-cooking.

By cooking from scratch (with whole, fresh ingredients), school food programs can provide delicious, nutritious meals for students. Research has shown scratch-cooking to have incredible benefits, like increased meal participation, improved student attendance, and decreased risk of diseases like diabetes.

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Program Impact

The Lunch Box provides many digital resources and tools for school food professionals. Online registration also helps us track impact and support funding initiatives.

27,539

site users registered

157,706

downloaded resources

6,794

school districts registered

Program Impact

The Lunch Box provides many digital resources and tools for school food professionals. Online registration also helps us track impact and support funding initiatives.

27,539

site users registered

157,706

downloaded resources

6,794

school districts registered

Discover More

SCALE Assessment

We’ve built the first free-access digital platform that offers the first comprehensive self-assessment focused on enhancing school meal programs and increasing scratch cooking.

Management Tools & Resources

Looking for meal cost worksheets, menu cycle plans, or food cost projection worksheets? Check out our collection of easy downloads to help plan your program.

Supporting Research

Check out these significant research and case studies that outline the benefits of healthy school food programs, which can be helpful when discussing school food changes with school district administration and community stakeholders.

Help The Lunch Box!

Please help us keep our tools & resources free for all users by registering here!

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