At Bidfood, we inspire creativity in crafting well-balanced school lunches that include a variety of food groups. A nutritious school lunch should feature a diverse selection of foods, ensuring all dietary needs are met and that every meal supports the health and well-being of students.
Source: Nutrition-Standards-for-Ka-Ora-Ka-Ako-Healthy-School-Lunches
Following the Nutritional Guidelines of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunch programme, we have curated a selection of products and ingredients to assist with meal planning and accommodate dietary requirements. Meeting the Health Star Rating (HSR) is a key aspect of this programme. The HSR is a voluntary front-of-pack labeling system that rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged food, assigning it a rating from ½ a star to 5 stars. It provides a quick and easy way to compare similar packaged foods—more stars mean a healthier choice.
Source: Nutrition-Standards-for-Ka-Ora-Ka-Ako-Healthy-School-Lunches
- Carbohydrates - Grains, wholegrain foods high in fibre for energy.
- Proteins - legumes, nuts, seeds, fish, eggs, poultry, and red meat for growth and repair.
- Desserts, Snacks and treats Dairy-low and reduced-fat options for bone health and calcium intake.
- Fruits and Vegetables - essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre.
MyRecipes
We provide easy-to-follow recipe sheets for school kitchens, ensuring meals meet Ministry of Health guidelines. Our tip is to display these sheets on kitchen walls or fridges for quick reference. These sheets offer simple, step-by-step instructions for creating healthy and delicious for information on how to create a recipe using the MyBidfood Menu Planning & Costing tool please see below:
Budget constraints can be challenging, but Bidfood offers strategies to help schools manage costs without sacrificing nutrition:
We help consolidate volumes and provide insights on volume deals whenever possible.
Bidfresh branches specialize in sourcing seasonal produce and offer periodic updates on what's in season.
Our MyRecipes tool assists schools in planning cost-effective menus quickly and easily compared to Excel sheets or manual methods. Just pick the portions and cost entire meals with a click!
Bidfood provides a range of product solutions to streamline meal preparation, including prepped produce and Sous Vide pre-cooked items. These options help eliminate labour costs and reduce waste, all while maintaining nutrition and flavor and cutting down on cooking time.
Our product solutions help provide balanced menus and foster healthy eating habits both inside and outside of school. Here are the five main standards to consider when creating your menu:
Compulsory Meal Components include these in every lunch in amounts that meet at least the minimum weight requirements set out in the Standards.
Additional Meal Components these are other food items that may be included in meals. They do not have minimum weight requirements but do count towards the total meal weight.
Total Minimum Meal Weights these are set for each school year group as a bare minimum standard. The appropriate meal size needed for ākonga to feel full will vary based on how filling the foods are in any given meal. Adjust meal sizes based on ākonga feedback.
Weekly Menu Requirements this specifies the number of times per week you can serve ‘amber’ processed meats and baked items.
Maximum Weight Allowance for Amber Items the Standards classify foods as green, amber, and red to reflect their nutritional value. Meals have a maximum weight allowance for ‘amber’ foods, ensuring menus are mostly made up of healthier ‘green’ foods.
The Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme is a vital initiative to ensure that New Zealand's children receive nutritious school lunches. Bidfood is proud to support this mission with comprehensive solutions that address nutrition, cost management, training, and product supply. Together, we can ensure every child has access to healthy meals that support their growth and learning.
For more information or to explore our product solutions, visit [www.mybidfood.co.nz](http://www.mybidfood.co.nz). For Bidfoods Healthy Solution brochure
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