Virginia

The manual and recipe demonstration videos were developed through a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Team Nutrition Training Grant (TNTG) by a Recipe Development Team comprised of Virginia Department of Education, Office of School Nutrition Programs (VDOE-SNP) team members, culinary experts, and Virginia school nutrition directors and staff. Each recipe included in the manual and videos features one or more Virginia Harvest of the Month (VA HOM) produce items and was taste tested by students and cafeteria staff across four regionally diverse Virginia school divisions. Recipes were adjusted and retested according to student and staff feedback and were standardized once an approval rate of 85 percent or above (i.e., 85 percent or more of students taste testers recommended that the recipe be featured on school menus) was obtained. Following standardization, recipes were featured on school menus in participating divisions and promoted through VA HOM marketing materials and nutrition education lessons.

The instructions and recommendations included in this manual are based on the process that the Recipe Development Team followed for the TNTG. The videos are located at https://www.doe.virginia.gov/hom.