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Plant-Powered School Meals Cohort
Apply to join the Plant-Powered School Meals Cohort - a paid learning opportunity for school nutrition professionals who want to bring more delicious, nutritious, and operationally realistic plant-powered meals into K–12 cafeterias. Over the course of one school year, the cohort provides tailored, hands-on support to help schools successfully pilot, scale, and sustain plant-powered menu options that students actually enjoy. At its core, the Plant-Powered School Meals Cohort is about meeting schools where they are - supporting manageable change, celebrating wins, and building confidence as districts expand access to plant-powered meals that nourish students and the planet.
You'll Recive
Funding
$5,000 in seed funding (disbursed in two increments) to support your plant-powered initiative.
Peer Learning & Community
Connect with a network of fellow school nutrition professionals who are piloting plant-based meals and solving similar challenges in real time.
Student Taste-Test Support
Recipes, product samples, marketing materials, student feedback tools, and practical tips to help you survey your students and make informed menu changes.
Menu-Ready Plant-Powered Recipes
Receive scalable, school-tested recipes designed to meet USDA meal-pattern requirements, with a focus on fiber, flavor, and feasibility.
Vendor & Product Connections
Explore a curated set of plant-based products suitable for K–12 foodservice, with direct feedback loops between schools and vendors.
Operational & Procurement Support
Learn practical strategies for purchasing, preparation, staff training, and integrating plant-powered options into existing menus.
Marketing & Promotional Resources
Receive ready-to-use promotional materials such as t-shirts, posters, and stickers, plus access to customizable marketing support - including social media posts, newsletter blurbs, student-friendly messaging, and more - to help build excitement and visibility around plant-based meals in your schools.
Tools That Work for You
Walk away with tailored resources, templates, and action items that help you make immediate, easy changes.
Before You Apply
Our Plant-Powered School Meal Cohort is designed for school food service leaders who are ready to take meaningful, measurable steps toward healthier, more sustainable menus. If that sounds like you, here’s what to expect:
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You’re a School Food Service Leader
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This cohort is built for current school food service professionals with decision-making authority over menus in your district, school, or program. You’re motivated to strengthen student health, increase fiber-rich and plant-forward offerings, and thoughtfully consider the environmental impact of school meals. If you’re in a position to test, adjust, and implement menu changes, you’re in the right place.
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You’ll be Actively Engaged
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This is a hands-on, supportive learning experience. From June through September, you’ll be invited to attend four live webinars (or watch the recordings on your own schedule and engage in the discussion boards). You’ll complete four companion training modules and meet quarterly with the Balanced team for tailored 1:1 support.
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You’ll also connect with fellow cohort members through discussion boards to share wins, challenges, and practical insights. The more you engage, the more value you’ll gain.
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You’ll Conduct Student Taste Tests
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Each quarter of the 2026–2027 school year, you’ll select 2–3 recipes to pilot with your students. We’ll provide product samples, marketing materials, feedback tools, and step-by-step guidance so you can run smooth, successful taste tests that generate meaningful input and excitement.
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You’ll Share Data to Drive Impact
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To help us measure progress and strengthen the field, you’ll share menus, participation data, and relevant documentation connected to your plant-powered efforts. This information allows us to track outcomes, learn together, and demonstrate what works in real school settings.
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