Montana

This comprehensive training program was developed and tested as part of the Montana’s Office of Public Instruction’s innovative plan to support Montana school districts in serving high quality meals, called the Montana Cook Fresh Initiative (MCFI). Montana Team Nutrition defines high quality school meals as fresh “from scratch” school meals that appeal to Montana students, incorporate local and USDA foods, and meet USDA nutrition standards. This curriculum is designed to reach three levels of school nutrition professional staff, including directors, managers, and frontline staff. The lesson plans are created for school nutrition programs that are operating USDA Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. This curriculum includes 10 lesson plans developed for all staffing levels to increase the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in preparing USDA compliant, scratch cooked meals. It also includes the evaluation package for the initiative, resources for peer education, tips for adapting the lesson plans into various delivery methods, 30 school nutrition recipes and more.