School Food Institute
Looking for engaging and informative professional development opportunities to support your school food team? The School Food Institute is the only online platform that offers professional development for school food service departments transitioning to a scratch cook model.
School Food Institute
Looking for engaging and informative professional development opportunities to support your school food team? The School Food Institute is the only online platform that offers professional development for school food service departments transitioning to a scratch cook model.
Eleven interactive courses align with USDA Professional Standards and can be used to fill the USDA’s professional development requirements for food service professionals. The online format encourages flexible schedules and access from any computer.
SFI Courses Include
- Engaging lectures that let students learn at their own pace
- Real-world assignments and learning activities
- Guest lectures from topic experts in school food
- Supplemental resources for more exploration
- Office hours with Chef Ann
- Optional Certificate Program
Spanish Translations
All SFI courses feature Spanish subtitles for each video lecture. The ability to switch between Spanish and English benefits all audiences: students can take the courses in their native language while also learning useful new terms and phrases in another language.
SFI Courses Include
- Engaging lectures that let students learn at their own pace
- Real-world assignments and learning activities
- Guest lectures from topic experts in school food
- Supplemental resources for more exploration
- Office hours with Chef Ann
- Optional Certificate Program
Spanish Translations
All SFI courses feature Spanish subtitles for each video lecture. The ability to switch between Spanish and English benefits all audiences: students can take the courses in their native language while also learning useful new terms and phrases in another language.
Course Summaries
School Food 101: Our most popular course and a perfect introduction to school food. Learn about school food history, regulations, policy, and funding. Beneficial for new school food professionals, food organizations and nonprofits, healthy food advocates, and anyone looking to learn more about healthier food in schools.
Mission, Vision and Strategic Planning: Follow an expert through the process of planning for systemic, sustainable change in school meal programs.
School Food Operational Models: Learn how each operational model affects the food on the lunch tray, and untangle the complicated web of school food operations.
School Food 101: Our most popular course and a perfect introduction to school food. Learn about school food history, regulations, policy, and funding. Beneficial for new school food professionals, food organizations and nonprofits, healthy food advocates, and anyone looking to learn more about healthier food in schools.
Mission, Vision and Strategic Planning: Follow an expert through the process of planning for systemic, sustainable change in school meal programs.
School Food Operational Models: Learn how each operational model affects the food on the lunch tray, and untangle the complicated web of school food operations.
School Food Finance: Walkthrough the revenues and expenses involved in school meal programs. Includes an explanation of fundamental tools to track financials throughout the year, and how to develop an annual and multi-year budget for a program.
Recipes and Menu Development: Discover why recipes are vital for sustainable scratch-cooking, what makes a good recipe for school food, and how to incrementally transition popular menu items to scratch-cook.
School Food Procurement: Find out why procurement is so important in school food, and how to align procurement practices with the mission and vision of the meal program.
School Food Finance: Walkthrough the revenues and expenses involved in school meal programs. Includes an explanation of fundamental tools to track financials throughout the year, and how to develop an annual and multi-year budget for a program.
Recipes and Menu Development: Discover why recipes are vital for sustainable scratch-cooking, what makes a good recipe for school food, and how to incrementally transition popular menu items to scratch-cook.
School Food Procurement: Find out why procurement is so important in school food, and how to align procurement practices with the mission and vision of the meal program.
Salad Bars in Schools: An in-depth look at planning and assessment for salad bar implementation, as well as the complex operational issues of recipe development, production records, and procurement.
Marketing and Lunchroom Education: Engage students and school communities with clever, attractive marketing tactics and lunchroom education events.
Sustainable Lunchrooms: Looking to go green? Learn more about the ever-increasing importance of reducing environmental impact, as well as achievable tactics to create a sustainable school food program.
Salad Bars in Schools: An in-depth look at planning and assessment for salad bar implementation, as well as the complex operational issues of recipe development, production records, and procurement.
Marketing and Lunchroom Education: Engage students and school communities with clever, attractive marketing tactics and lunchroom education events.
Sustainable Lunchrooms: Looking to go green? Learn more about the ever-increasing importance of reducing environmental impact, as well as achievable tactics to create a sustainable school food program.
Plant Forward - Discover the health, environmental, and financial benefits of eating plant-based proteins. Also learn how to serve more plant forward meals in your school.
Ingredients for Healthier Kids - Not all ingredients are created equal. Find out which common unhealthy ingredients are sneaking into our food, and learn how to reduce and eliminate them from school menus.
Plant Forward - Discover the health, environmental, and financial benefits of eating plant-based proteins. Also learn how to serve more plant forward meals in your school.
Ingredients for Healthier Kids - Not all ingredients are created equal. Find out which common unhealthy ingredients are sneaking into our food, and learn how to reduce and eliminate them from school menus.