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Applications are now open for the Get Schools Cooking Grant program, which supports U.S. school districts eager to transform their school lunch programs from processed foods to scratch-cooked meals.
Category
Grant
Program Overview
Whole Kids has partnered with the Chef Ann Foundation to assist districts in transitioning from highly processed meals to scratch cooking. The Get Schools Cooking initiative offers a multi-year transformative journey that includes:
- In-person workshops for food service directors
- On-site assessments and recommendations
- Strategic planning
- Peer-to-peer collaboration
- Access to a Technical/Equipment Assistance Grant
Importance of the Program
Serving children scratch-cooked meals enables districts to offer healthier, more nutritious, and delicious breakfast and lunch options. However, the shift to scratch cooking comes with several challenges, including financial, procurement, management, education, and staffing hurdles. This program offers expert guidance to help school districts overcome these barriers. A recent Pew study revealed that school food programs preparing more scratch-cooked meals and using salad bars saw increased student participation. The program’s guidelines promote healthier meal options compared to processed food offerings.
Funding Information
The program offers nearly $250,000 in value per participating district, depending on the size of the district.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, school districts must meet the following criteria:
- Commit to transitioning towards a scratch-cooked, fresh whole foods approach for meal programs
- Demonstrate support for improvements from district leadership
- Participate in the National School Lunch Program
- Run a self-operated food service program
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