If you’re looking to freshen up your breakfast menu, try adding fruit (fresh or prepackaged), yogurt/parfaits or cold cereal/cereal bars. Those were the top-three categories that school operators say will grow in the next two years, according to The Big Picture research.
- 57% of school respondents say fruit will grow
- 38% say yogurt/parfaits will grow
- 32% say cold cereal/cereal bars will grow
It’s not surprising that fruit was listed at the top growth category for schools. Schools will have to offer one cup of fruit to students when the new USDA guidelines for breakfast go into place in the coming years. The concern for some child nutrition operators is that the growth in fruit is driven by a federal mandate and not because of student demand. Many directors believe the produce will end up in the trash and not in students’ stomachs.