Reimagining Premium Meals

In January of this year, we began the Premium Meals project to improve and enhance some of the meals being served to children at after-school programs through Child and Adult Care Food Program. A premium meal is slightly different and elevated from our general fare. For instance, delivering fresh berries instead of apples and pears, or preparing baked dry rub chicken wings instead of a chicken patty.

Going into this school year, we determined our key intent and goals for the project were to:

• provide opportunities for kids to try an unfamiliar type of food while incorporating nutrition education and food awareness information
• provide a meal of more value, valuing our partners and kids through an elevated meal
• make it seamless and limit the additional work for our partners who are working in the community and serving meals to kids

What are Themed Meal Days?

Twice a month our partners will serve a themed, premium meal on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. One theme will be to focus on alternative holidays like national pasta month or breakfast for dinner day. The second theme will follow the PA Harvest of the Month, a program developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Project PA (Penn State University) to promote a local agricultural product each month through schools, child and adult care centers/day care homes, and summer feeding sites.

Having done this before, we knew we wanted to replay some of the best hits of Premium Meals from last year. For example, brisket and gyros were big hits. Our goal is to design meals the kids will want to eat and not everything needs to be something different or unfamiliar.

We thought an premium meal may also be something that someone eats in their cuisine at home but maybe not at the program. We love asking the kids what they want and what they think is ‘a better’ meal.

One thing we learned in our original feedback is that the kids loved dessert. When a dessert was part of dinner, it felt special. So, we are considering that and will work to include a dessert inspired item for each themed meal.