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Benita Gingerella

Benita Gingerella

Senior Editor

Benita is a senior editor for FoodService Director and covers K-12 foodservice. She has been with the publication since 2016. In her spare time, Benita is an avid restaurant-goer and loves to travel extensively.

Latest from Benita Gingerella

5 things logo
Operations
MMI Dining Systems rebrands as Zest Culinary Services and more news you may have missedMMI Dining Systems rebrands as Zest Culinary Services and more news you may have missed
byBenita Gingerella
Jan 23, 2025
5 Slides
Dr. Yetunde Alade speaking at SNIC
K-12 Schools
3 big takeaways from SNIC 20253 big takeaways from SNIC 2025
byBenita Gingerella
Jan 22, 2025
3 Min Read

All from Benita Gingerella

Students eating lunch in cafeteria
K-12 Schools
New York and Arizona introduce bills banning certain additives in school meals
New York and Arizona introduce bills banning certain additives in school meals
Jan 21, 2025
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2 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
5 things logo
Operations
The FDA bans red dye No. 3 from food and other news you may have missed
The FDA bans red dye No. 3 from food and other news you may have missed
Jan 16, 2025
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5 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Vegetables
Senior Dining & Meals
Meatless for seniors: How the dining team at Pennswood Village wowed with new vegetarian options
Meatless for seniors: How the dining team at Pennswood Village wowed with new vegetarian options
Jan 16, 2025
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Preschool students learn how to make a salad with FeedWells' chefs.
K-12 Schools
Kids can cook: New preschool culinary class gives students a taste of preparing their own meals
Kids can cook: New preschool culinary class gives students a taste of preparing their own meals
Jan 15, 2025
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3 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Students eating lunch
K-12 Schools
Governor Hochul wants to bring universal free school meals to New York
Governor Hochul wants to bring universal free school meals to New York
Jan 14, 2025
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1 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Student gets food in the cafeteria
K-12 Schools
School Nutrition Association calls on Congress to raise meal reimbursements in 2025 Position Paper
School Nutrition Association calls on Congress to raise meal reimbursements in 2025 Position Paper
Jan 13, 2025
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3 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Senior living residents eating
Senior Dining & Meals
4 key senior living dining trends to watch in 2025
4 key senior living dining trends to watch in 2025
Jan 9, 2025
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2 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
5 things logo
Operations
New research sheds light on which ultra-processed foods are worse for you and other news you may have missed
New research sheds light on which ultra-processed foods are worse for you and other news you may have missed
Jan 9, 2025
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5 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
A student grabs a carton of milk
K-12 Schools
Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to bring whole milk back to school cafeterias
Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to bring whole milk back to school cafeterias
Jan 7, 2025
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3 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
A student holds a lunch tray at school
K-12 Schools
More students receive free meals at school as CEP participation continues to rise
More students receive free meals at school as CEP participation continues to rise
Jan 6, 2025
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2 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
The cafeteria at Oak Lawn Community High School
K-12 Schools
Oak Lawn Community High School cafeteria goes green with latest branding relaunch
Oak Lawn Community High School cafeteria goes green with latest branding relaunch
Jan 3, 2025
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2 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Students getting lunch at school
K-12 Schools
K-12 operators still dealing with supply chain challenges, but procurement disruption is easing
K-12 operators still dealing with supply chain challenges, but procurement disruption is easing
Dec 20, 2024
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1 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
5 tings logo
Operations
2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee releases dietary advisory report and other news you may have missed
2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee releases dietary advisory report and other news you may have missed
Dec 19, 2024
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5 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
light bulb
Operations
10 stealable ideas operators shared in 2024
10 stealable ideas operators shared in 2024
Dec 19, 2024
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10 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
A student gets food in the cafeteria
K-12 Schools
New Jersey school nutrition bills would support local procurement and take on school meal junk fees
New Jersey school nutrition bills would support local procurement and take on school meal junk fees
Dec 17, 2024
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2 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Students in the lunch line
K-12 Schools
10 K-12 stories that resonated with readers in 2024
10 K-12 stories that resonated with readers in 2024
Dec 17, 2024
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10 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Chicken Edamame Bowl
K-12 Schools
10 food trends that will be popular with K-12 students in 2025
10 food trends that will be popular with K-12 students in 2025
Dec 13, 2024
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10 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
5 things logo
Operations
A majority of calories consumed at home come from ultra-processed foods and other foodservice news you may have missed
A majority of calories consumed at home come from ultra-processed foods and other foodservice news you may have missed
Dec 12, 2024
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5 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Students get food in the cafeteria
K-12 Schools
USDA funding for local food purchases now available for school nutrition operators
USDA funding for local food purchases now available for school nutrition operators
Dec 11, 2024
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2 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Student eats walking taco at USDA Foods Conference
K-12 Schools
Food for thought: New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s latest conference gives insight as to what could be on future school lunch menus
Food for thought: New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s latest conference gives insight as to what could be on future school lunch menus
Dec 9, 2024
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3 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
The cafeteria at Dryden Elementary School
K-12 Schools
Kitchen and cafeteria renovation gives Dryden Elementary students a fresh take on school lunch
Kitchen and cafeteria renovation gives Dryden Elementary students a fresh take on school lunch
Dec 6, 2024
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4 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
5 things logo
Operations
Beans reign supreme when it comes to meat alternatives and other news you may have missed this week
Beans reign supreme when it comes to meat alternatives and other news you may have missed this week
Dec 5, 2024
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5 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Students working in a garden
K-12 Schools
Rialto Unified School District brings global eats and local ingredients to students’ plates
Rialto Unified School District brings global eats and local ingredients to students’ plates
Dec 5, 2024
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3 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Students eating lunch at school
K-12 Schools
Montana bill would cover reduced-priced school meals for students
Montana bill would cover reduced-priced school meals for students
Dec 3, 2024
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1 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
A girl gets a piece of fruit in the cafeteria
K-12 Schools
How Minneapolis Public Schools successfully reduced added sugars at breakfast
How Minneapolis Public Schools successfully reduced added sugars at breakfast
Dec 2, 2024
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3 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Bowling Green State University dog biscuits
Colleges & Universities
From trash to treat: food scraps at Bowling Green State University get new life as dog biscuits
From trash to treat: food scraps at Bowling Green State University get new life as dog biscuits
Nov 27, 2024
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2 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Students eating in The Spot
Colleges & Universities
How George Mason University’s ‘The Spot’ became the spot to be for plant-based eating on campus
How George Mason University’s ‘The Spot’ became the spot to be for plant-based eating on campus
Nov 25, 2024
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4 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
5 things logo
Operations
Advocates want Kellogg’s cereals banned from Texas school meals, and other news you may have missed
Advocates want Kellogg’s cereals banned from Texas school meals, and other news you may have missed
Nov 21, 2024
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6 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Senior Dining & Meals
Beer brewed in-house is on the menu at Arizona senior living community thanks to new director of brewing operations
Beer brewed in-house is on the menu at Arizona senior living community thanks to new director of brewing operations
Nov 21, 2024
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
A student carrying a lunch tray at school
K-12 Schools
Texas bill would ban certain additives in free and reduced-price school meals
Also in this week’s legislative update: Pennsylvania announces the return of its School Breakfast Challenge.
Nov 19, 2024
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2 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Students receive lunch at school
K-12 Schools
School Food Reboot Program brings scratch-made meals to New York state schools
School Food Reboot Program brings scratch-made meals to New York state schools
Nov 19, 2024
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4 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
Students working in a school garden
K-12 Schools
5 things to know about the current state of farm-to-school
5 things to know about the current state of farm-to-school
Nov 15, 2024
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2 Min Read
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor
5 things logo
Operations
Lunchables pulled from National School Lunch Program and other news you may have missed
Catch up on industry news that you may have missed this week with 5 Things with FSD.
Nov 14, 2024
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6 Slides
byBenita Gingerella, Senior Editor

Read more

valentines day roses and cocktail in martini glass
Business & Industry
Restaurant Associates' Valentine's Day/garden party mashup at Brooklyn Botanic Garden has a lovely limited-time menu
Restaurant Associates' Valentine's Day/garden party mashup at Brooklyn Botanic Garden has a lovely limited-time menu

Jan 23, 2025

5 things logo
Operations
MMI Dining Systems rebrands as Zest Culinary Services and more news you may have missed
MMI Dining Systems rebrands as Zest Culinary Services and more news you may have missed

Jan 23, 2025

Dr. Yetunde Alade speaking at SNIC
K-12 Schools
3 big takeaways from SNIC 2025
3 big takeaways from SNIC 2025

Jan 22, 2025

Heart of FoodService.
Colleges & Universities
From demolition to nutrition, college dining wrapped up last semester with fun events to reduce the stress of finals
From demolition to nutrition, college dining wrapped up last semester with fun events to reduce the stress of finals

Jan 21, 2025

Students eating lunch in cafeteria
K-12 Schools
New York and Arizona introduce bills banning certain additives in school meals
New York and Arizona introduce bills banning certain additives in school meals

Jan 21, 2025

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