Taste Buddies Blueprint

Taste testing in the school cafeteria is a fun activity and a great tool to get instant feedback from our most important customers. A tasting can consist of single food items such as vegetables and fruits, or a new recipe under consideration for the breakfast or lunch menu.

Taste testing is a tool that can be used to introduce students to the smells, textures, and flavors of new foods.

The more involvement from students, teachers, administrators, even a DJ Cheetah appearance, the more excitement it can generate for the program. Positive feedback from principals and teachers can encourage reluctant students to try new foods and DJ Cheetah can help to encourage younger students to try new the new foods. One bite can lead to healthy eating habit for a lifetime and promote healthy food choices for the entire school community!

Benefits of Taste Tests

• Taste tests in the cafeteria provide a safe environment for children to try new foods before the foods are on the menu.

• Innovative menus can be developed using results from taste tests.

• Uncover why an item is undersold. Has it gone unnoticed or perhaps students just don’t like it?

• Learning about food and watching peers and teachers try new foods can help motivate students to taste foods that they may not have experienced at home or in the cafeteria.

TIPS for Conducting a Taste Test

• Develop a goal for the event. Before conducting the taste test event, decide what goal/s you want to accomplish. Set realistic goals that will benefit your students and school. For example, you may want to set a goal to select 2 new menu items to add to the menu cycle next month.

• Ensure the food sample looks appealing and that there is plenty for everyone to try. Students are more likely to try foods that look appealing to them. If you need to add color, use colored sample dishes or spoons.

• Have students help conduct taste tests. Students are more likely to try a new food if asked by a peer and not an adult.

• Have a small group of student leaders (middle school or high school) assist. They can dress up as waiters/waitresses in aprons and pass out samples of new foods during lunch.

• Involve teachers. SFE staff can provide teachers with food samples and evaluation sheets.

• For very young students get creative with gathering feedback. You can pass out colored pieces of paper and have them place their votes in a bucket: green = I like it, and red = I don’t like it.

• Provide incentives to students who participate in taste tests. Inexpensive incentives include stickers, bookmarks, pencils, tattoos, or a drawing for lunch with the principal or a donated prize.

• Get Chef involvement. Students love interacting with Chefs! This is a great event for your district or regional chef to be involved with.

• Do not force students to try a food. However, explain to them that although they may not think they are going to like the new food, that tasting is a good way to find out. Praise children for trying something new!

• Allow students to help in the preparation of the food item. Consider coordinating the taste testing event with Roving Chef. Students that help in preparation of the food are more likely to try the food and to encourage their peers to do the same.

Fundamentals of a Successful Tasting Event

Spread the word!

• Promotion is key: Advertise the taste testing on the menus and in the cafeteria.

• Start a conversation: Encourage servers & cashiers to inform students about the taste test ahead of time to generate excitement.

• Invite teachers, administration and parents to participate: Their support and excitement encourages student participation. Collaborate with the school to include reminders during the morning announcements, in the school newsletter and on the district website.

Choose where to set up the taste-test:

• On the service line: Offer samples on student trays on in small sample cups.

• On a mobile cart or tray brought to the students’ tables: Pass out samples and surveys to students at tables.

• At a table in the cafeteria: Work with monitors and administration on how students will be released to visit the table.

Share your results!

• Offer the favorites on upcoming menus: Advertise on take home & line menus items that are offered based on taste test feedback.

• Post the results on the website: Announce menu items that are being offered based on student feedback.

• Add to morning announcements: Let students know when their new favorites are being offered in the cafeteria!

Planning Schedule

1 Month Prior

• Arrange with director, DRO, client, and principal where and when class should take place.

• Determine frequency of classes.

• Determine plan or theme of classes, ideas on next page.

3 Weeks Prior

• Create recipe card based on theme or plan.

• Decide attendance limit and send out invites with RSVP information.

• Contact Media and/or District PR to invite to event.

• Use the following pages to write out detailed planto ensure smooth presentation.

2 Week Prior

• Print Certificates and Recipe Cards on cardstock

• Order food

• Order equipment needed

1 Week Prior

• Check status of food and equipment

• Contact media/PR to schedule pictures or video

• Contact district A/V department for projector, video, and microphone

1 Day Prior

• Prep recipe for amount of participants +5

• Check & test equipment function and setup demo area

• Arrange for tables and chairs if not already present

2 Hours Prior

• Set up table, cloths, equipment, supplies

• Test video, projector, and microphone

• Display Chef hats, aprions, and recipe cards for each participant

45 Minutes Prior

• Uncover all food and fire up equipment

• Follow Cooking Class Execution Plans

• HAVE FUN!

1 Day After

• Send thank you notes and distribute any pictures or video

Marketing Partner and Resources

Get your schools, district, and community excited!

• Develop a marketing blurb that includes the taste test date, time, and foods to be sampled that can be shared with the office for the morning announcements and parent newsletter.

• To district social media mediums and district website.

• Use the SFE Announcement form to create a flyer. Print & distribute to the front office and post in cafeteria.

• Assign a district champion to encourage participation.

• Invite school board and city council members. sponsors or partners.

• Taste Test Kit

• Table cloth & table banner stand attachment. DJ Cheetah & Manny Panda standup sample sign also available.

• Taste Test Display Signage

• Display menus for tasting station

• Nutrition facts & recipe for tasting station

• Recipe Cards

• Students can take home a recipe for what they taste!

• Invitation - Use this template to invite parents, teachers and administration to your event.

All marketing materials are available under District Marketing on the SFE website

Taste Test Checklist

• Create shopping list for taste test recipe

• Place food order

• Create & post announcement

• Purchase prizes and participation incentives

• Send out invitation to parents, teachers and administration

• Develop & print recipe cards

• Print in color when possible

• Determine expected number of participants

• Print out taste test surveys

• Elementary or Secondary option

• Have enough copies for all participants

• Order sample dishes if needed

• Have pens/pencils available

• Submit blurb of event for morning announcements

• Organize taste test station decor

• Table cloth

• Table banner stand

• Signage

• Table

• Trash cans

To-Do List After Your Taste Test

• Tally results

• Share results & implement changes in menus

• Add pictures & description of event to Client Letter

• Thank everyone that helped make the event a success!

There are many reasons to conduct a taste test!

• Taste test a new food-of-the-week, or food-ofthe-month.

• Taste-test items from a couple new concepts at the high school and let students vote which concept will be added to the menu next month.

• Focus on taste-testing a certain color of food such a green foods or red foods.

• Taste test new items you are considering selling a la carte such as Smart Snacks compliant beverages or snacks.

• Try a new entrée each week for a month. Collect evaluation data and let the students know the results and add to the menu next month.

• Offer a taste test of a new food the day before it is on the menu.

• Taste test new, lower sodium foods such as breakfast items.