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34 Readers' Picks Best K-12 school meals in America

Food Management asked child nutrition directors to submit their best student meal; here are the readers’ picks in categories ranging from beef to chicken and vegetarian.

Becky Schilling, Group Content Director/Editor-in-chief

December 8, 2020

42 Slides
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Last month we picked 11 winners of our 2020 Best K-12 Meal in America content. But we received so many other great nominations that we couldn’t resist sharing the other creative, tasty meals school nutrition professionals are serving in their schools—or outside due to coronavirus restrictions.

From a chicken and waffles sandwich with a spicy Sriracha kick to the Indian flavors of tikka masala and a Tex-Mex burrito, these 35 entries showcase the healthy and innovative items found on school lunch trays. You’ll find entries in eight categories: bowl, breakfast, chicken, pasta, sandwich, seafood, taco/burrito and vegetarian.

All meals had to meet USDA requirements under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and must be served as a reimbursable meal under the National School Lunch or Breakfast programs.

The entrée was the main component used in judging the competition, though full meals with sides that complement the entrée were given additional points. Judging was done by Food Management editors.

Without further ado, let’s meet this year’s Readers’ Picks selections. The Best K-12 Meal in America competition is sponsored by Tyson K-12.

About the Author

Becky Schilling

Group Content Director/Editor-in-chief

Becky Schilling is Food Management’s editor-in-chief, and the group content director for Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group, managing editorial for digital, print and events for Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, Food Management and Supermarket News media brands. Becky holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas A&M University and a master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Before joining Food Management in 2014, Becky was with FoodService Director magazine for seven years, the last two as editor-in-chief. Becky is a history nerd and a sports fanatic, especially college football—Gig'em Ags—and tennis. A born and raised Texan, Becky currently resides in New York City.

Becky Schilling’s areas of expertise include the onsite foodservice industry (K-12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare and B&I), foodservice menus, operational best practices and innovation.

Becky Schilling is a frequent speaker at industry events including The Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF), The National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) and The Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management (SHFM).

Becky Schilling’s experience:

Group Content Director, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Feb. 2020-present)

Editor-in-chief Food Management (Nov. 2014-present)

Director of Content Strategy & Optimization, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (March 2019-Feb. 2020)

Editor-in-chief, Supermarket News (April 2019-March 2019)

Executive Editor, Supermarket News (July 2016-April 2017)

Editor-in-chief, FoodService Director magazine (March 2013-Oct. 2014)

Managing Editor (FoodService Director magazine (March 2012-March 2013)

Associate Editor (FoodService Director magazine (Nov. 2007-March 2012)

Contact Becky Schilling at:

[email protected]

@bschilling_FM

https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-schilling-39194ba/

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