1st Quarter Taste Testing Instructions Theme: Beans In the first quarter, you’ll be taste-testing one of three suggested bean-based recipes (or a recipe you have been meaning to try) and gathering student feedback. The suggested recipes have been selected with flexibility and operational capacity in mind, meeting you and your teams where you are. Instructions: 1. Pick a recipe from the Recipes page of this document, or any recipe you have been meaning to try with your students. 2. Conduct a taste test of the recipe and gather student feedback using one of the tools in the Student Feedback Tools page of this document, or one of your own that works best for your team and students. 3. Take photos of the taste testing. Check out our guide, Capturing Content at Your School(s), for best practices and tips on showcasing your program in the best light. 4. Share your success - with Balanced and your community! ● In the “Action Items” section on Circle, indicate the recipe you selected (upload a copy if you chose one not on the list!), share your student feedback data, and upload photos from your taste test. ● Highlight the work you are doing to your school community by sharing details and photos from your taste test in newsletters, on social media, or wherever you communicate with families.
Recipes Option 1: The “stealth health” option. Next Taco Tuesday, substitute 25% of the meat with pinto beans. Use all the same seasonings you would for the meat version. This small shift quietly adds more fiber to the meal and doesn’t need to be called out. Just see how students respond. Over time, you can increase the ratio of beans. ¼ cup cooked/canned pinto beans credits as 1 M/MA. Option 2: The speed-scratch option. A ½ cup serving of this simple Black Bean Hummus recipe credits as 2 M/MA, and works on your salad bar, in a wrap, or served with chips. Easy to prepare, easy to credit, and easy to serve! Option 3: The scratch cooking option. This two-step recipe for Protein-Packed Veggie Chili (pg. 14 in the Recipe Guide) comes together so easily in the oven, you’ll hardly believe you’re cooking from scratch! 1 cup credits as 2 M/MA. Ready to take scratch to the next level? Serve alongside this Cornbread recipe developed by fellow cohort member, Cady Molloy, FSD at Dartmouth Public Schools in MA. ‼️Option 4: Something else you want to try! You are welcome to select any other recipe that you have been meaning to try, or one that aligns with your specific goals for the school year. It does not have to be bean-based, this is simply a fun theme we have centered our suggestions around for the first quarter. If you choose your own recipe, please upload a copy of it on Circle when you submit your taste test results. ‼️
Student Feedback Tools Yes/No Sticker Board: This is a simple, visual option that is great for younger students.
Yes/Maybe/No Bucket Voting: This is an easy, low-effort way to collect feedback from a large group of students. Simply ask students to discard their sample cup into buckets labeled “Yes”, “Maybe”, or “Not for me”. Tally the cups later so you can be present with the students as they taste test.
Google Form: This is a great option for tech-savvy older students who are capable of giving nuanced feedback about what they liked and what they would adjust to make it better. Check out this sample Google Form, and MAKE A COPY to customize it for your taste test.
Marketing & Promotion Resources Sample Morning Announcement: Share this announcement with the morning announcement team at the school/site where the taste test will be conducted. Ask them to read it during the week of the taste test to build excitement. This week, we're hosting a special taste test in the cafeteria! You'll get to try _______________, a brand new bean-based dish. Beans are packed with protein and fiber, so this dish isn't just tasty, it's good for you too. Come hungry, keep an open mind, and get ready to share your feedback. We can't wait to hear what you think! Sample Social Media Post: Post a photo (or a few) from the taste test on your program or district social media page, along with the caption below.
🎉 Taste Test Update: Last week, students at [insert school/site name] got to try _______________, a new bean-based dish we're considering for the menu,
and the results are in. The verdict? _______________! Beans bring protein and fiber to the table, and it's awesome to see students getting excited about trying new, nutritious foods. Stay tuned for more taste tests throughout the school year! Sample Newsletter Blurb: Include this blurb in your program, school, or district newsletter to share your taste test results with families and include them in the process. This month, your student had the chance to taste-test _______________. Beans are packed with protein and fiber, making them a nutritious addition to school meals. Based on positive student feedback, we are considering adding _______________ to our menu rotation. Ask your student what they thought, and let us know if you have any feedback to share. Thanks for supporting healthy meals at school! Print out the All About Beans 1-pager and give it to older students at your taste-testing, or use the information included as talking points when taste-testing
with younger students. This is also a great resource to share with families - consider attaching it to your newsletter alongside the recipe you taste-tested.