Onboarding for School Nutrition Chefs is a comprehensive face-to-face culinary training program developed by the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) to support chefs and culinary professionals newly entering or expanding their roles within school meal programs. This 13.5-hour program is designed to strengthen operational knowledge, reinforce regulatory compliance, and build confidence in preparing nutritious, appealing meals that meet federal meal pattern requirements. Launched to address the growing need for structured onboarding resources for chefs working in K–12 settings, the program also introduces foundational school nutrition concepts to chefs serving in diverse roles such as directors, menu planners, and district-level culinary leads.
Grounded in practical application and adult-learning best practices, the training integrates hands-on culinary skill development, personalized assessments, and facilitated group discussions to create an interactive and engaging learning experience. Participants explore essential operational topics, including standardized recipes, mise en place, safe food production practices, equipment use, and scratch and speed-scratch techniques tailored to school kitchens. The Onboarding for School Nutrition Chefs Culinary Training Manual serves as the primary instructional resource and provides trainers with structured lesson guidance, detailed activity plans, and all required handouts for seamless delivery.
Created for school nutrition professionals, this program aims to enhance culinary readiness, strengthen workforce capacity, and connect participants with the full range of ICN training and technical assistance resources available to support their ongoing professional growth.