Congrats to the 2019 Show Us Your Tray Winners!

Spotlight on Schools

Congratulations to the 2019 Show Us Your Tray Winners!

Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo for the 2019 Show Us Your Tray Photo Contest! We received over 250 submissions from school districts across the nation showing us how they creatively use USDA Foods. This year, we created four different categories to highlight USDA Foods across all food groups. The competition was tough but everyone should be proud of the effort they put into making school meals healthy, kid-approved, and delicious. Check out the winners and honorable mentions of the 2019 Show Us Your Tray Contest!


USDA Foods Gold Tray Award

Show us the rainbow! This is the highest honor and features the most innovative use of more than one USDA Food including fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy.

School lunch tray: Teriyaki Chicken over Noodles

Tuckahoe Common School District, NY
Teriyaki Chicken over Noodles
USDA Foods used: fajita chicken, spaghetti, broccoli, and oranges


Protein Power Award

Proteins pack a powerful punch in any meal. This category features the most creative dish using animal or plant-based proteins.

School lunch tray: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

South Windsor Public Schools, CT
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
USDA Foods used: chickpeas and mozzarella cheese


Great Grains Award

Go further with fiber! This category features the most creative dish using grains.

School lunch tray: Teriyaki Chicken w/Fried Rice

Rialto Unified School District, CA
Teriyaki Chicken with Fried Rice
USDA Foods used: brown rice, mixed vegetables, peas and carrots


Say Cheese Award

Dairy products are a great addition to any meal. This category features the most creative dish using yogurt or cheese.

School lunch tray: Pesto Pasta Primavera

Bakersfield City School District, CA
Caprese Salad with Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes
USDA Foods used: string cheese, broccoli, diced chicken, and strawberries


Honorable Mention

We told you the competition was tough! We received so many excellent photos that creatively used USDA Foods that we selected two additional photos that deserved recognition. 

School lunch tray: Taco salad, Mexicali Corn, and Broccoli Salad

Three Village Central School District, NY
Taco Salad, Mexicali Corn, and Broccoli Salad
USDA Foods used: beef crumble, corn, broccoli, and a strawberry cup

School lunch tray: Build Your Own Ramen Bowl

Birmingham Public Schools, MI
Build Your Own Ramen Bowl
USDA Foods used: fajita chicken

We hope the photo contest was inspiring and encourages school districts to keep up the excellent work! Subscribe to our e-letter to get the most up-to-date information on USDA Foods in Schools and future announcements about next year’s competition.

Congratulations to the 2019 Show Us Your Tray Winners!


How to Sign Up for the USDA Foods E-Letter

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1. Click here. Or you can go to the Food Distribution website and click on the red envelope on the row of social media icons on the top right of the page.

2. Enter your email address and click "Submit."

3. Check the boxes to select your topic(s) of interest. For these e-letters, scroll down to the Food Distribution category and click the plus sign to the left of the check box to expand the list and view all the topics. Select any of these topics to receive the general e-letter plus the corresponding program-specific e-letter(s) of your choice:

*USDA Foods --> receive all "USDA Foods from Farm to Plate" e-letters

*Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) --> receive "Household Highlights"

*The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) --> receive "Household Highlights"

*Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) --> receive "FDPIR Connection"

*USDA Foods in Schools --> receive "Spotlight on Schools"

4. Visit the subscriber preferences page any time you would like to review, add, or delete subscriptions. Questions? Contact USDAFoods@fns.usda.gov.

5. Share the e-letter and new subscriber link with interested colleagues and friends!