5 things: Study finds COVID policies almost doubled summer meal participation

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

 1.    Study finds COVID policies almost doubled summer meal participation

A new study conducted by Mathematica for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that in July of 2020, the Summer Food Service Program served meals to at least 5 million children, which was almost double the number of children who received meals through the program in each of the five previous summers. The National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option, another federal summer child nutrition program, saw an increase of at least 18% from 1.1 million children served nationwide to 1.3 million children served in the 40 states that reported data for this analysis.

Read more: Study Shows Federal Child Nutrition Program Waivers Helped Increase Access to Meals Despite Pandemic Disruptions

 2.    RIT commits to 50% plant-based offerings by 2025

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has committed to having 50% plant-based offerings on menus by 2025 in collaboration with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). As part of this effort, HSUS chefs recently provided an in-person plant-based culinary training to the university culinary staff that featured new Protein Foundations recipes that highlight whole food, plant-based sources of protein as center-of-the-plate menu offerings.  

Related:5 tech things: Uber Eats partners with tech firm to expand robotic delivery

Read more: Rochester Institute of Technology commits to 50% plant-based entrees by 2025 and hosts plant-based culinary training

 3.    Coalition formed to push for universal free school meals

Over the last year, momentum has been building to revive the pandemic-era model of school food access with Minnesota, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Maine all committed to funding what are often referred to as universal free meals while other states like Vermont and Connecticut extended free meals through the 2023 school year. While it’s state legislatures that have led the charge back to free meals, advocacy groups, medical associations, a teachers union, and parents organizations this month joined together to form the Healthy School Meals for All Coalition, which plans to push Congress to bring back universal school meals.

Read more: States Are Fighting to Bring Back Free School Meals

 4.    HHS signs $1.2B partnership with Advantus Health

Advantus Health Partners and FM Top 50 firm HHS have announced an eight-year, $1.2 billion agreement designed to provide optimized productivity and expanded analytics capabilities that contribute to a high-quality and consistent patient experience. HHS serves 750 customers worldwide and offers multiple services, including housekeeping, food, facilities, patient transport, healthcare technology management, and linen and laundry management. This strategic collaboration allows Advantus to bring full-service hospitality options to its growing client base of more than 200 hospitals, 1,700 sites of care and 600 clinics in 46 states.

Related:5 things: District saves 70 trash bags a week by sending food waste to local farms for composting

Read more: HHS, Advantus Health Partners Sign $1.2B Patient Experience Partnership

 5.    Movie theater recovery plans include premium foodservice

More than three years after the pandemic slammed movie theaters, they are installing heated lounge chairs that fully recline or have built-in trays and buttons to summon waiters. Menu options have grown ever more sophisticated. Sushi, anyone? You can wash it down with an I.P.A.

Read more: Larger Screens, Heated Seats, Sushi: Theater Owners Want You Back

Bonus: Viewpoint: Sustainability initiatives highlight Sodexo campus dining programs

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]