Bulk Meal Packs
As the COVID-19 landscape continues to unfold and more districts are reverting back to an online learning environment, school food programs are looking for ways to efficiently and safely feed their students. Bulk meal packs enable school food programs to serve multiple meals for a week or more, all through one convenient distribution drop.
Bulk Meal Packs
As the COVID-19 landscape continues to unfold and more districts are reverting back to an online learning environment, school food programs are looking for ways to efficiently and safely feed their students. Bulk meal packs enable school food programs to serve multiple meals for a week or more, all through one convenient distribution drop.
What are Meal Packs?
A meal pack is a box of food and ingredients that families can pick up and prepare at home. Along with fresh produce, milk, and breakfast items, they generally consist of a week’s worth of ingredients that can be put together to make a complete scratch cooked meal. All ingredients included in the box meet specific USDA nutrition guidelines for 7 days’ worth of complete breakfast and lunch requirements. The Seamless Summer program allows school food programs to currently provide meals for holidays and weekends, and the waiver allows these meals to be provided in bulk.
Bulk meal packs can help improve labor challenges in your department, as it takes less time to package up bulk ingredients than it does to prepare and cool individual entrees and package for remote feeding.
Bulk meal packs provide new variety to families who have been relying on food to help feed their children. They can also be a great way to help utilize existing inventory.
Bulk meal packs provide new variety to families who have been relying on food to help feed their children. They can also be a great way to help utilize existing inventory.
Most importantly, bulk meal packs promote cooking at home with family. Basic ingredients should be provided for families to cook at home and enjoy a well balanced meal together. Include recipes for easily prepared meals that kids will be familiar with and get excited about.
Recipes
Download the customizable recipes here and read more about our top bulk meal packs below.
Bulk Meal Pack Recipes
Meal Packs
Below is a selection of our favorite bulk meal packs. For more information about quantity and sourcing, download the excel spreadsheet above
Chicken Fajita
Sautéed peppers and onions compliment the seasoned chicken in this simple recipe for chicken fajitas. Served in a whole grain tortilla, it’s delicious and healthy.
Sweet ‘n’ Sour Stir Fry
This healthy and easy recipe for stir fry is sure to be a hit. Tangy sweet and sour sauce finishes the chicken, broccoli and pineapple dish, while the brown rice is a nice earthy compliment to the sweet sauce.
Spaghetti
Spaghetti night is always a family favorite. This kit provides the dried pasta, marinara sauce and shredded cheese topping.
Roasted Chicken & Vegetables
This healthy and comforting recipe will provide the basics for a delicious dinner. All ingredients can be roasted in the oven at the same time.
Pizza
Build your own pizza! We provide the basics for a pizza cooked at home. Be adventurous and add your own toppings if you like.
Mac ‘N’ Cheese
This is a speed scratch recipe for creamy Mac ‘N’ Cheese. Bake for dinner and enjoy leftovers easily reheated for lunch.
Hot Dogs
Every kid loves hot dogs. Cook these all beef, nitrate free hot dogs at home and enjoy on our whole grain buns. A healthy twist on a classic. Perfect for a quick dinner or easy lunch.
Chicken Caesar Salad
This easy meal kit pairs crisp chopped romaine with creamy Caesar dressing. Add diced chicken to the top for a protein packed salad.
Deli Sandwich
A classic deli sandwich is perfect for grab and go lunches. Pair with a side salad or fruit for a healthy meal!
Bagel Breakfast
Bagels, cream cheese and fruit provide a healthy, quick and easy grab and go meal for kids. Enjoy for breakfast or lunch.
Breakfast Parfait
Build your own parfait can be a fun way for kids to get involved in the kitchen and a fun way to get fruit, protein and whole grains all in one yummy dish!
Tamales or Pupusas
Here is an easy way to enjoy some traditional Latinx foods. Just heat the pupusas or tamales in a 350 degree oven and enjoy! Pair with a salad for a complete meal.
Plant Forward
Plant Forward is a part of a national food movement for healthy and sustainable food. Many school-aged children request more plant-based options to reduce food’s environmental impact and meet personal ethics and beliefs. For school meal programs, plant forward options can save money, improve health, and reduce the impacts on climate and our environment.
Our Plant Forward options meet the USDA guidelines, provide 7 days worth of meals and are cost effective. We also include recipes to encourage plant forward scratch cooking at home.
Available bulk meal packs in the download:
- Portabello Mushroom Fajita
- Amazing Tofu Lo Mein
- Tuscan Bean and Basil Penne
- Outrageous Orange Stir Fry
Download the full meal pack download here. For even more ideas, visit the Plant Forward section.
Vegetables
Want to include a particular vegetable in the bulk meal pack box? Here’s the amount needed to fulfill the vegetable requirement for seven days.
- Avocado - 1.7 lbs
- Bell peppers, mixed whole - 1.5 lbs
- Broccoli - 1.5 lbs
- Butternut squash - 2 lbs
- Carrots, whole - 1.5 lbs
- Cauliflower - medium head
- Celery - 1.25 lbs or small bunch
- Potatoes - 1.75 lbs
- Salad Mix - 1.25 lbs
- Sweet Potatoes - 2.25 lbs
- Yellow squash, fresh - 1.25 lbs
- Zucchini, fresh - 1.25 lbs
Vegetables
Want to include a particular vegetable in the bulk meal pack box? Here’s the amount needed to fulfill the vegetable requirement for seven days.
- Avocado - 1.7 lbs
- Bell peppers, mixed whole - 1.5 lbs
- Broccoli - 1.5 lbs
- Butternut squash - 2 lbs
- Carrots, whole - 1.5 lbs
- Cauliflower - medium head
- Celery - 1.25 lbs or small bunch
- Potatoes - 1.75 lbs
- Salad Mix - 1.25 lbs
- Sweet Potatoes - 2.25 lbs
- Yellow squash, fresh - 1.25 lbs
- Zucchini, fresh - 1.25 lbs
Fruits
Here are some of our favorite fruit options to include in bulk meal packs.
- Applesauce - 3.5 cups
- Blueberries - 3.5 cups
- Cantaloupe (medium size) - 3.5 cups
- Cherries, with pits - 3.5 cups
- Cranberries, dried - 1.75 cups
- Dates, dried and pitted - 1.75 cups
- Grapes - 3.5 cups
- Grapefruit - 3.5 cups
- Pineapple - 3.5 cups
- Raisins - 1.75 cups
- Strawberries - 3.5 cups
- Watermelon - 3.5 cups
Fruits
Here are some of our favorite fruit options to include in bulk meal packs.
- Applesauce - 3.5 cups
- Blueberries - 3.5 cups
- Cantaloupe (medium size) - 3.5 cups
- Cherries, with pits - 3.5 cups
- Cranberries, dried - 1.75 cups
- Dates, dried and pitted - 1.75 cups
- Grapes - 3.5 cups
- Grapefruit - 3.5 cups
- Pineapple - 3.5 cups
- Raisins - 1.75 cups
- Strawberries - 3.5 cups
- Watermelon - 3.5 cups
Fruits and Veggies for Meal Packs
Fruit and Vegetable Requirement Guide
Holiday Packs
At the holiday season when schools begin their winter break season, it’s important to remember that many children and families still need food during those times. Take advantage of the waivers that are available now and provide meals during holidays and breaks. It will help participation in your program, bring in much needed reimbursement, and most importantly will take care of food access for your students.
Discover More
Recipes and menus are the heart of school food change. Our recipes have been developed by school food professionals, kid-tested, and perfected in school kitchens. Visit our recommended scratch cooking to go recipes.
Discover More
Recipes and menus are the heart of school food change. Our recipes have been developed by school food professionals, kid-tested, and perfected in school kitchens. Visit our recommended scratch cooking to go recipes.