2. All-in-one packaging
Packaging of grab-and-go options at Windham School District in Windham, N.H., can be the deciding factor in the menu item’s popularity. “Half of it is how it’s packaged,” says Nutrition Services Director Rhonda Peckham.
Peckham and chef-manager Lauren Crowley say they play around with different containers to see what draws students. “We have this chip-and-dip container where it’s all in one,” says Peckham. “We found that when we took hummus and produce and packaged it all in one container instead of offering it separately like we had originally, the students were more eager to take it.”
In April, the foodservice team debuted salad shaker cups in the to-go section at Windham High School. While students reacted positively to the new offering, Peckham says the eye-catching and portable menu item became the most popular with faculty.