Resources for School Food
Knife Skills Video Library
The cornerstone of efficient kitchen operations starts with proper knife handling. These quick tutorials cover essential techniques for high-volume school kitchen prep.
From Prep to Plate
Resources for scaling recipes, batch cooking efficiently, and integrating local foods into your school menus.
Culinary Skills for Local Food
Training templates and handouts for preparing local foods, step-by-step guides for preparing fresh vegetables efficiently, and batch cooking techniques for consistent results.
View Resources →Culinary Workshop Series
Virtual culinary webinars featuring easy, tasty recipes that meet Child Nutrition Program guidelines. Cook along with Chef Jessica or watch the recorded sessions at your own pace.
Watch Webinars →Farm to School Menu Planning
Strategies for incorporating local products into school recipes, techniques for featuring Oregon foods on salad bars and cycle menus, and methods to make local foods permanent kitchen inventory items.
Recording & Slides →Cooking for a Crowd Recipes
Over 75 free, downloadable recipes scaled for large groups — perfect for school kitchens. Includes nutrition facts, prep and cook times, and budget-friendly ingredients.
Browse Recipes →Professional Development Resources
Looking to deepen your skills? These organizations offer comprehensive training, tools, and support for school nutrition professionals.
The Lunch Box
From Chef Ann Foundation — a comprehensive library of school food recipes, videos, operational tools for transitioning to scratch cooking, and professional development modules.
Explore The Lunch Box →Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition
A division of the Institute of Child Nutrition offering in-depth, hands-on culinary training — including equipment usage, recipe standardization, and professional development for school nutrition staff.
Learn More at CICN →Brigaid School Kitchen Support
Professional chef guidance for K-12 districts — practical approaches to elevate food quality and systems for implementing scratch cooking methods in school settings.
Visit Brigaid →Equipment & Safety Essentials
Speed Scratch Techniques
- Combine from-scratch preparation with select ready-made components to save time
- Use food processors to prep large quantities of vegetables efficiently
- Maximize equipment usage for labor-saving preparation
- Apply time management strategies for busy school kitchens
Food Safety for Scratch Cooking
- Maintain proper temperature control during batch cooking
- Follow safe cooling and storage practices
- Handle fresh ingredients correctly at every stage
- Document processes for health department compliance
Ready to Start Cooking from Scratch?
Start with one or two scratch-made items each week and build from there. Your staff will develop confidence, students will love the fresher flavors, and your Farm to School program will thrive.