School cafeterias cannot operate without the hardworking staff who prepare meals for students several times a day. With continued labor issues not dissipating, districts struggle to find enough staff to run their school nutrition programs. Having the right foodservice equipment can help with the labor shortage and help assist with completing tasks.
The Importance of School Nutrition for Children
Many people do not realize that the meals children receive at school are sometimes the healthiest meals they eat all day. By providing meals to help students learn better, school nutrition professionals are filling a need.
According to the Food and Nutrition Service:
- Many children receive about half of their daily dietary intake from school meals.
- 78% of school foodservice directors found USDA’s school meal standards helpful in decreasing sodium intake
- Kids who eat lunch at school are likelier to consume vegetables, fruit, and milk and less likely to consume unhealthy snacks and desserts.
Clearly, child nutrition is critical, and school foodservice programs play a significant role in this. Schools need to provide their cafeteria workers with the equipment they need to prepare healthy, nutritious meals for their children.
School Foodservice Equipment for Nutritious Meals
The only way school nutrition professionals can continuously provide healthy meals for children is with the right equipment:
Convection and Combi Ovens
Ovens, such as those from Montague, are critical because they allow school lunch professionals to cook large quantities of food quickly. Combi oven options, like the RATIONAL iCombi Pro, allow school nutrition professionals to cook multiple menu items at once.
Food Shields
To maintain food safety, food on serving lines must be kept safe from germs and little fingers. Multiteria food shields can be retrofitted to any counter space and placed in an open position for easy cleaning.
Walk-in Coolers
Having a walk-in cooler that holds in the cold to keep food at temperature is important for student safety. Arctic Walk-ins are engineered to perform to whatever schools can put them through. They're also customizable to work in any configuration needed.
Shelving
School nutrition professionals also easy to assemble modular shelving. Fermod modular shelving systems are assembled in less time than other systems, have removable shelf inserts, and hold a maximum weight load of up to 800 pounds. With a lifetime warranty against rust and corrosion, they can also be kept inside walk-in coolers and freezers.Is your school district ready for a foodservice equipment revamp? Take our assessment to get started:
