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Never boring, a nacho bar for lunch is always a hit. |
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Tasty tuna salad with fresh veggies for lunch. |
Share your school meal success with us! Email SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
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The Rooted in Excellence award applications are open now through February 28! School Food Authorities (SFAs) that operate the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) are eligible to apply. SFAs are invited to apply for one award within either the Culinary Cultivator track or the Nurturing Navigator track. |
Culinary Cultivator Award Track
The Culinary Cultivator awards recognize SFAs that demonstrate excellence in culinary innovation, culturally inclusive menu development, and Farm to School practices. These efforts help connect students to fresh, local foods and celebrate the diverse cultures and communities that the SFAs serve.
Breakfast Excellence
This award recognizes sponsors that go above and beyond in delivering exceptional breakfast service. Applicants should highlight innovative strategies and creative approaches to meal service, including programs like Breakfast After the Bell.
Culturally Inclusive Meals
This award honors sponsors that increase the cultural diversity of their meal offerings.
Farm to School
This award celebrates sponsors maximizing their Farm to School program and use of local foods.
Scratch Cooking
This award recognizes sponsors that feature scratch-made recipes at least two times per week for a month or have developed one new standardized recipe during the year
Nurturing Navigator Award Track
The Nurturing Navigator awards recognize SFAs that demonstrate excellence in promoting their programs through innovative marketing, delivering impactful nutrition education, developing strong partnerships, and engaging their community.
Marketing and Promotion
This award recognizes sponsors that have worked to promote their program and inform families and the community of the great work they are doing.
Nutrition Education
This award recognizes sponsors that have created or expanded nutrition education opportunities for students or families.
Partnerships and Engagement
This award recognizes sponsors that have strengthened partnerships and/or community engagement to improve school nutrition and/or wellness
Application and Award Process
To learn more and apply online, visit the Rooted in Excellence webpage.
Applications close February 26. Awardees will be publicly recognized in May.
Winners receive a certificate, digital badge, press release template, public recognition, and more!
Questions? Contact CNStraining@k12.wa.us.
OSPI is pleased to announce the awardees of the Breakfast Meals for Kids Grant for School Year (SY) 2025-26!
 This funding will be used to improve or start the SBP or other school meal program by:
- Purchasing food service equipment.
- Providing staff training.
- Marketing the program.
- Providing outreach to students, families, and school staff, including translation services.
- Improving efficiency, sanitation, or safety in the food service area.
Washington State University’s (WSU) School of Food Science invites you to apply for the Behind the Tray pilot program.
Behind the Tray is a free virtual workshop designed to enhance the food science literacy of school nutrition professionals. Program participants will learn the fundamentals of food science and food processing, with a special emphasis on food safety and food microbiology topics, learn how this information applies to their job, apply this knowledge to their nutrition programs, and learn how to better communicate these topics to stakeholders.
Date: March 30 - April 10, Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
Time: 9 am – 2:15 pm
Eligibility
Applications are open to state agency and district-level child nutrition professionals who direct or manage K-12 school meals programs. Individuals who have an active role in training school nutrition staff or who are responsible for food procurement are encouraged to apply. Behind the Tray is a train-the-trainer program; participants are expected to use the knowledge and materials provided through the program to teach others about food safety and improve the quality and safety of the school meals they serve.
Application Information
Applications are due January 23, 2026.
Questions? Contact Cathy Blood, blood@wsu.edu.
Harvest of the Month
OSPI’s Harvest of the Month resource sheets help districts feature seasonal, Washington-grown foods. For February, we’re spotlighting leeks. Each sheet includes fun facts, nutrition highlights, selection and storage tips, recipe ideas, and classroom/cafeteria activities.
Access the leeks resource sheet on the Farm to School webpage under Harvest of the Month drop-down menu. If you don’t have access to leeks near you or want to feature another food item, check out past Harvest of the Month resource pages on the OSPI Farm to School webpage under the Harvest of the Month drop-down menu. What local item will you feature this month?
For support sourcing Harvest of the Month items, email farmtocnp@k12.wa.us.
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NW Food Hub Summit
 Mark your calendars to join local food producers, food hubs, state agency representatives, local food system advocates, and community members in collaboration and network with the NW Food Hub Summit in March 2026!
When: March 12, 2026, 2 – 8 pm & March 13, 2026, 8 am – 4 pm
Where: Hemmingson Center at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA
How to Register: Registration closes Friday, February 27, 2026
Registration includes the choice of a farm tour on March 12 from 2-4 pm and the full-day Summit on March 13 with panels, breakouts, and locally sourced breakfast and lunch. An additional networking social and exhibitor show is available in the evening on March 12.
Salad Bars to School Grant
 Salad Bars to Schools is a national grant program operated by The Chef Ann Foundation. The goal of this program is for every school in the United States to offer a salad bar as part of their meal program.
Application Opens: February 2026
Grantee Awarded: Comprehensive salad bar equipment package, marketing package, technical assistance resources, and two free enrollments in The School Food Institute's Salad Bars in Schools course.
Eligibility: Sponsors who operate the NSLP, offer the salad bar as a part of the reimbursable meal, have a self-operated food service department (no FoodService Management Company), serve K-12 students with an enrollment of at least 100 students, and have the Food Service Director involved in applying (with verification form from the superintendent)
Join the interest list to be notified when applications open.
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