A Student–Focused Approach

Our in-depth, proprietary Student ViewPOINT™ survey system delivers critical feedback for continual innovation in our K-12 food and nutrition programs. With more than 50,000 responses gathered annually online and on-site from clients, students and parents, we stay in touch with student dining needs, attitudes and behaviors.

The results of these ViewPOINT™ surveys drive customized solutions that provide ongoing improvement and valuable impact for the districts we serve. The surveys help identify what items are popular, what students value and expect, and what changes are needed. From these insights we are able to create more than 250 new recipes every year.

By conducting surveys before we begin operations, and then again every 12 months, we can regularly refine and enhance your program to raise satisfaction. 

Getting to Know our Customers

Because we are committed to designing a school dining experience that not only meets nutritional requirements but also promotes satisfaction, we listen closely to you, your students and their parents.

By conducting surveys and hosting focus groups with principals, administration, faculty and students, we can better evaluate program performance, menu enhancements, nutritional concerns, promotions and location-specific needs.

Additionally, we lead nutrition and health advisory committees with students, parents, principals and administration members. These groups meet regularly with our food service director to discuss:

• Program feedback on menu preferences, dining environments and wellness promotions
• Nutritional concerns
• New ideas and potential enhancements for current programs

Student Feedback

We know that valuable feedback and great ideas are obtained simply through interaction with your students on the serving line. The cafeteria manager and staff for each school engage with students on a daily basis to get input, respond to comments and follow up as needed. Our food service directors regularly visit school cafeterias and participate in classroom activities to discuss school meals and sound nutrition. Visits with principals are routinely scheduled to share valuable information and insights so that we can best adapt dining programs to each school’s specific needs.

To make sure our services meet your satisfaction we go straight to our customer—your students and district community.

Taste-Tested and Approved

We hold taste-testing and sampling events for students, faculty and parents to determine and introduce new menu items. This helps us understand what works best for your district, while providing a “first-hand experience” with your food service program to encourage parent and community support.

Diverse, Vibrant Menus

Delivering nutritious meals with a variety of exciting flavors and choices keeps students excited about their school dining programs. We offer a wider selection of menu options compared to our competitors by offering:

• A variety of fruits and vegetables each day of the week
• Increased entree choices, geared to student age level and district operational capabilities
• Different menu options on each day of the monthly menu cycle, compared to the repetitive choices of many competitors' menus

Customized Meal Solutions

Our ability to customize programs that not only exceed your students’ and community’s expectations but also meet your district’s financial needs set us apart from our competition. Together we will design a program that’s the right fit for your district by:

• Considering your labor, equipment and facilities requirements to determine efficient, effective menu and operational models
• Drawing on extensive culinary and nutrition expertise, district and student feedback, and the latest research and newest trends to establish a superior food and nutrition program
• Focusing on consistent menu and product quality, and nutritional integrity, to create menus that can be customized for local needs

Healthy Choices

Providing nutritious menus for your students is the foundation of their overall good health. We take this responsibility seriously by:

• Creating recipes that focus on “right-size” portions and socially responsible food selections
• Reducing added sugars by limiting the use of added sugars in cooking, featuring reduced-sugar cereals and serving only fruits in light syrup or natural juice
• Proactively reducing sodium levels by using only frozen or fresh vegetables, eliminating salt in recipes and relying on salt-free seasonings to naturally enhance flavor
• Reducing or eliminating fats in recipes
• Incorporating the USDA vegetable sub-groups and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables every day at breakfast and lunch

Addressing Student Needs

We want to ensure every student has the opportunity to enjoy a tasty and nutritious meal. We understand and accommodate the varying needs of your students by providing:

• Gluten-free products and menus
• Tree-nut and peanut-free products and menus that can be implemented in a single school, or district-wide
• Pork-free products and menus available
• Daily vegetarian/meatless (lacto-ovo) options 
• We understand the varying needs of your students and accommodate these needs by providing modifications and substitutions in menu offerings

School districts that participate in federally funded child nutrition programs must address multiple and often complex federal, state and local requirements. We bring your district unmatched resources and expertise to successfully navigate the complexities of this challenging environment.

Preparing for Regulatory Change

Because we work proactively to address nutrition-related regulatory changes, your district will always be well positioned to comply with current USDA requirements and future changes for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Menus designed for your district will meet or exceed the requirements of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, as well as state and local regulations. We continuously provide our operation teams with communications and training to manage a USDA-compliant and successful food service program. 

The Right Nutrition Strategy

We use the science-based frameworks outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for America and MyPlate in the development of our menus and student nutrition programs. And we are ready to help your district achieve the criteria of the HealthierUS School Challenge criteria if desired.