Is Scratch Cooking in Schools Making a Comeback?
It’s true! Scratch cooking in schools has recently been making a comeback in parts of the US. It’s been found to increase participation, improve attendance, and strengthen academic performance. Some have even discovered that scratch cooking has enabled them to better connect with their increasingly diverse student populations. The classic definition of scratch cooking is starting with raw ingredients such as meats, fresh vegetables, and whole grains to cook meals, rather than serving commercially processed and packaged meals or meal components. If you’re not doing any scratch cooking now, that may sound overwhelming. Fear not! Today’s scratch cooking doesn’t have to be all or nothing. We now also have speed scratch cooking and scratch-ready food products to help prepare fresher meals for students. Even if you don’t go all-in, you can still enjoy the opportunity to get more creative, enhance your program’s food quality, and develop your team’s culinary skills and job satisfaction