School Meals Matter Blog

The holidays bring excitement, special events, and moments of joy—but they also bring stress. Routines change, classrooms feel different, and emotions run higher for both students and staff. Some students carry worries we never see, and many struggle with the unpredictability this season brings. In the middle of all that, the cafeteria becomes one of the most steady, comforting places in their day. That’s why the holiday season is a time when school nutrition teams should do

Filling open positions in school nutrition programs is harder than ever, but your best recruiters may already be on the payroll. Employees know the job, the schedule, and the culture better than anyone—and they’re connected to parents, retirees, students, and community members who value flexible school-day work. By offering a clear incentive, such as a $100–$250 bonus once a new hire completes 90 days, you turn your team’s pride and word-of-mouth into a powerful hiring engine

In a school cafeteria, everything moves fast from the first breakfast to the last lunch served. But have you ever stopped to wonder what...

Conflict is part of any fast-paced school nutrition operation. Whether it’s personality differences, work assignment changes, or over job...

In school nutrition programs, every second counts and every task matters. If you've watched The Bear , you'll recognize that phrase as a...

Stepping into the role of cafeteria manager after working alongside your team can feel both exciting and overwhelming, but with the right...

Behind every school meal is a team of skilled professionals working with precision and passion. It’s time to pull back the curtain and...

Can you believe the classic lunch lady stereotype still exists? When I was a young School Nutrition Director in 1993, Adam Sandler...