Preview of Roadmap file

Montana Team Nutrition's newest resource is the Roadmap to Building Quality School Meals. This tool is designed specifically for school nutrition programs operating the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. This self assessment tool can help new food service directors begin their journey on the road to quality school meals, while experienced food service directors can use it to continue to challenge themselves and move their program to new heights. 

Download a copy of the roadmap.

Navigate directly to the Roadmap Resources Page. 

Examples of quality school meals in Montana 

A photo of a lunch tray with a variety of fresh, scratch cooked foods. A photo of a student holding a lunch tray with chili, vegetables, and homemade cinnamon rollsA photo of a

Click on an image to view as a slideshow.

How do I use the roadmap? 

By completing the roadmap, food service directors and other school nutrition staff will identify their programs strengths and opportunities for improvement in key school nutrition categories that support quality and scratch cooked meals. Once you have assessed your program, the roadmap guides you through a goal setting and action planning activity that will help you set realistic goals and develop an action plan for achieving them. 

Additional goal setting and action planning worksheets are available to download. 

Read the Roadmap Success Story to learn about how school districts in Montana have used the roadmap to set and acheive their goals. 

Where can I find resources to help me meet my Roadmap goals?

After you have completed your action plan, please visit the Roadmap Resources webpage for a curated collection ofresources and information to meet your goals. The resources are broken down into the five categories that are covered in the roadmap: 

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Food Procurement

Procurement includes menu planning and purchasing practices that determine the type, quality and source of foods served in a school nutrition program. 

Cartoon image of a cutting board and knife, cutting a carrot, onion, and garlic

Food Production 

Food production is the method and techniques used to prepare school meals, and includes strategies for maximizing nutrition and culinary skills to cook from scratch.  

A cartoon image of a lunch tray including a salad, chili, cinnamon roll, apple, and fresh vegetables

Meal Service

Meal service is how foods are presented and served. 

A cartoon image of an apron that reads "we love our cooks"

Culture

Beyond the food itself, the professional development of school nutrition staff and their connection to the wider school community can impact a program's ability to serve quality school meals. 

Two cartoon hands, crossed and holding a spatula and a whisk

Support and Infrastructure 

Support and infastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures needed for program operation.

Contact Information: 

For more information or additional training on how to use this resource, please contact: 

Molly Stenberg

Email: stenberg@montana.edu 

Phone: 406 - 994 - 7217

Acknowledgements

The Roadmap to Building Quality School Meals was developed by Montana Team Nutrition with support from the Montana Office of Public Instruction School Nutrition Programs. This project was funded by a 2019 United States Department of Agriculture Team Nutrition Training Grant for Innovative State Training Programs awarded to the Montana Office of Public Instruction School Nutrition Programs.  The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

Thank you to the school districts that participated in the Montana Cook Fresh High Quality School Meals Initiative for piloting and informing this roadmap.