Cleaner chicken revs up school menus

If you had to wager whether a school lunch menu contained at least one chicken dish, that would be a pretty safe bet. From chicken nuggets and pasta with chicken meatballs to chicken patty sandwiches and grilled chicken strips on salads, chicken dishes are a versatile staple on K-12 menus.

According to Technomic’s 2016 Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report, powered by Ignite, 68% of consumers say they think antibiotic-free foods are slightly or much more healthy, and 32% say they think antibiotic-free foods are slightly or much more tasty; while younger students may not focus on that when eating at school, older students and parents may. As a result, some schools have seized the opportunity to use it on their menus.

Thanks to the increased availability of antibiotic-free, humanely raised chicken products, school foodservice teams can easily create craveable menu choices with a better-for-you spin. Time-tested favorites such as chicken nuggets, meatballs and strips, plus other speed-scratch products, provide a springboard for delectable menu offerings designed to keep even the choosiest eaters coming back for more.

Looking for inspiration? Check out these four ideas below.

Sandwiches

Breaded chicken sandwiches continue to ride a wave of popularity; the latest evolutions incorporate sweet and hot, with Sriracha/honey combinations especially on trend.

For bigger appetites, chicken meatball sandwiches provide a substantial choice, while wraps that combine grilled chicken strips with grilled vegetables satisfy students who want a healthy, balanced lunch option.

Salads

Chicken salad can go beyond the ordinary with add-ins such as mango, apples, grapes and nuts, mayonnaise-free or yogurt-based dressings and spices such as curry or cilantro. This versatile favorite is equally at home on bread, lettuce or in wraps.

Chicken Caesar salads (which also make excellent wrap fillings) take on a healthier profile when served with a lower-fat dressing, and they get a flavor jolt with the addition of bacon. Additionally, Buffalo chicken salad pulls together a fiery, filling protein, fresh vegetables and a creamy blue cheese dressing.

Ethnic favorites

Chicken is a kitchen chameleon, able to adapt to many cuisines. Popular Italian options include chicken Parmesan, chicken alfredo (made healthier with lower-fat sauces and the addition of broccoli), pasta with chicken meatballs and pizza with chicken sausage.

Asian favorites include Mandarin orange chicken, Asian chicken noodle or rice bowls, Korean-style fried chicken (unbreaded, baked or fried with sweet chili sauces), chicken fried rice, teriyaki chicken, Thai chicken wraps and chicken satay.

Among kid-friendly Latin classics are chicken tacos, burritos, enchiladas and fajitas. Directors of K-12 foodservice can draw inspiration from Latin-inspired chains when developing these menu items. According to Technomic’s 2017 Center of the Plate: Poultry Consumer Trend Report, powered by Ignite, some chains are embracing better-for-you takes on dishes that typically use red meat or pork, swapping chicken in for carne asada, chorizo or carnitas.

Chicken and rice, otherwise known as arroz con pollo, also holds a spot in many ethnic cuisines; these days, it’s an ideal bowl that can be layered with Asian, Latin, Indian or other global spices and ingredients.

Comfort classics

Dishes such as chicken pot pie and roasted chicken remain high on the ranks of perennial favorites in the National Restaurant Association’s 2017 “What’s Hot” chef survey. Chicken noodle soup is the quintessential comfort dish, and today’s versions can veer well beyond the standard celery, carrots and onions to include ingredients such as spinach, kale and broccoli. The broth might have a touch of heat or a twist from lemongrass, and whole-grain or rice noodles can nudge the typical egg noodles out of the bowl.

For kids, the familiar chicken nuggets and fingers arguably define comfort. Updated versions get a flavor boost from dipping sauces, with old standbys such as honey mustard and barbecue competing against ginger sesame, herbed yogurt and Buffalo-style dips—or a tasting-style combination of several.