Trends in K-12 Foodservice

See what’s hot and what you need to stay on trend.

Trend One: LTOs Trending Now

Limited Time Offers (LTOs) bring real energy to your cafeteria. Students see LTOs everywhere in the food world, and offering them at school creates the same sense of excitement and curiosity.

Game Day Buffalo Crunchers

Bring big flavor to your cafeteria lineup with these crunchers—they're zesty, fun, and totally student-approved!

Nacho Crunch Sticks

Cheesy, crunchy, and oh-so-satisfying—this dish is easy to prepare and will be a total hit with hungry students.

Hot Shot Tots

Turn up the heat with this "Gem" of a recipe. It's hearty, just the right amount of spicy, and totally crave-worthy for a hungry lunch crowd.

Tokyo Squares

With crispy Tater Squares™, tender pork and edamame in a yummy teriyaki sauce, this dish brings all the bold, kid-friendly flavor to your lunch hour.

Trend Two: Brain Food

Functional foods are showing up everywhere on menus and social media recipes, and students are paying attention. They look for meals that help them feel fueled, steady, and ready to learn.

Sweet Potato Loaded Taco Fries

Students will stay sharp in the afternoon with this delicious, brain-boosting dish—it's packed with crispy sweet potato fries, black beans, and creamy avocado.

Savory Bite Bowl

The name says it all...an easy, savory bowl that keeps students satisfied and powered up throughout the day.

Chicken and Veggie Crunch Wrap

This wrap packs protein and crunch into every bite. It's loaded with teriyaki chicken, carrots, edamame and avocado—all wrapped up for a tasty, portable lunch.

Garden Quinoa Lunchbox

Need an energizing lunch that keeps your students fueled and focused? Serve up this colorful, power-packed lunch that's loaded with quinoa and veggies.

Trend Three: Lunch Drop — Ghost Kitchen Concepts

Students are used to ordering food online and getting it fast. Lunch Drop lets you recreate that experience right inside your school.

Pop Lab Mango Blast Parfait

Layer juicy mango, creamy vanilla yogurt and crunchy granola for a bright, tropical treat. It's an easy, refreshing treat that students will love.

Flavor Lab Asian Fusion Bowl

Students will love this colorful bowl—it's packed with chicken, veggies, fried rice and served with a delicious sauce that brings it all together.

Power Bowl with Baby Bakers™

Build a hearty bowl with roasted potatoes, fajita chicken, corn and melty cheese—you're sure to get a smile with every bite.

Tater Tech Start Up

What a smart way to kick-start the school day with this tasty, energizing breakfast bowl. It's a morning mash-up that students won't be able to resist.

Trend Four: Crowdsourced Cuisine

These recipes come straight from K‑12 operators across the country, who are already using them in their cafeterias.

Southwest Chicken Salad

Need a new lunch option that students will get excited about? Try this bright, crunchy salad that's loaded with crispy chicken, veggies and just the right amount of crunch. So good!

Fiesta Pierogies

Bring big flavor to the lunch line with this cheesy, colorful, comforting dish. Your students will want to dig right in. Yum!

Mango Chicken Stir Fry

Toss tender chicken, lots of veggies and tropical mango together for a sweet-meets-savory dish that brings big flavors and a little fun to the lunch line.

Cold Woodle Salad

Mix tender, chewy noodles with crisp veggies and a flavorful sun-butter sauce...what do you have? A fun, easy-to-make dish that students won't be able to get enough of.

Join Simplot+ to access Trend Feast®

Let's get you set up.

Fill out the form below to register for Simplot+. Once submitted, you will receive a temporary password, then set up two-factor authentication. Completing this brief process will allow you access into all that Simplot+ has to offer! Already signed up? Click here to sign in, then visit the Simplot+ Trends & Insights page.