Kick up everyday menu items with cheese sauce

While federal guidelines may limit the types of foods served in K-12 facilities, following K-12 nutrition guidelines doesn’t mean meals have to be boring or repetitive. One way to keep things exciting for kids is by offering cheese sauce to enhance popular meals. Cheese sauce makes veggies more appealing, pasta more indulgent and just about any other food tastier.

With numerous ways to add cheese sauce to the menu, a partner like Land O’Lakes Foodservice provides expert suggestions and inspiration so operators can find the right solution for their schools. When operators choose Land O Lakes® K-12 dairy products, including shelf-stable cheese sauces, it’s easy to get creative and offer options kids love while still meeting nutritional requirements. Susie Berglund, Land O’Lakes Foodservice Sr. K-12 Culinary Product Specialist, shares some inspiration to get started.

Upgraded comfort classics

Hungry students love traditional comfort foods just like everyone else. Italian beef is taken to the next level when paired with Land O Lakes® Ultimate Creamy White™ Cheese Sauce. Sauteed bell peppers and onions start this hearty sandwich off—placed atop a whole grain Italian hoagie bun, of course—followed by reduced-sodium roast beef and finished with rich cheese sauce.

Likewise, Broccoli Cheddar Soup is made easier than ever when using Land O Lakes® Ultimate Yellow™ Cheese Sauce. Frozen potatoes, onions, turkey bacon and frozen broccoli combine to make a warm, comforting bowl that kids of all ages will enjoy.

Tex-Mex tastiness

Global inspiration is hitting restaurant menus everywhere, so it’s not surprising to see it pop up in cafeterias, too. And getting kids on board with global flavors is easy when it looks familiar. Try menuing Southwest Pasta Salad. This pasta salad can be served hot or cold and features black beans, corn and salsa and is made with Land O Lakes® Ultimate Jalapeno™ Cheese Sauce for a delicious kick.

Or if operators are looking to freshen up the School Breakfast Program and appeal to those always-on-the-go students, they can try these Breakfast Burrito Kits with Land O Lakes® Ultimate Yellow™ Cheese Sauce. These recipes also ensure operators have everything they need to meet SBP requirements.  

Dips galore

Operators can also offer cheese sauce as a dip—for chips, breads, vegetable and more. Single-serve Cheese Dip Cups from Land O’Lakes are made with convenience and portability in mind. Each 1 M/MA, 3-ounce serving is perfect for meals in the cafeteria as well as for grab-and-go choices. Shelf-stable for convenient storage and featuring the savory cheddar flavor kids love, they are perfect at lunch, for an after-school snack, self-served bars, field trips, emergency feeding and summer feeding programs.

Variety, taste and quality

When operators choose Land O’Lakes Foodservice for their cheese sauce needs, everyone wins: Kids get great-tasting meals and operators can feel confident knowing the recipes they’re using meet USDA requirements. Chef Susie and the Land O’Lakes Foodservice K-12 Team are experts in the industry,  understand operator needs and are committed to making operators’ jobs easier.
To learn more about cheese sauce options that make meals and snacks more appealing, and to get recipe inspiration, visit https://www.landolakesfoodservice.com/channels/k12/.