Starting the school day with a balanced meal 

Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day. And that’s especially true for kids, according to the Food Research & Action Center. Their research supports that when students eat school breakfast, they:   

• Perform better on standardized tests than those who skip breakfast.  

• Exhibit decreased behavioral and psychological problems and have lower rates of absence and tardiness.  

• Are more likely to consume diets that are adequate or exceed standards for important vitamins and minerals than those who do not eat school breakfast or who have breakfast at home.  

 Beginning in Fall 2025, added sugars will be limited in school meals. Currently, USDA dietary guidance recommends that no more than 10 percent of daily calories come from added sugars. However, recent research found that 92 percent of school breakfasts contained 10 percent or more of calories from added sugars.   

Cheese for breakfast? Yes please!  

Because of these changes, school operators are looking for savory breakfast solutions. Enter Spreadable Cheese, a new-to-the-K12-world product developed by the Land O’Lakes K-12 Foodservice team. This portable, cheddar-flavored spread was designed to be a great savory breakfast option. The product will be available in schools in July 2025, right in time for the new school year. Another reason to smile? Each 2 oz. individually portioned container will have a “cheesy” joke under the lid!     

“The Land O’Lakes K12 Foodservice team recently debuted our Spreadable Cheese at the School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference (ANC), the biggest K-12 event of the year, and received a very positive reception. Beyond bagels, the creamy and tangy spreadable cheese also pairs well with crackers, pita chips, veggies and apple slices making it a versatile option for any meal. We can’t wait to officially launch in schools soon,” says Hannah Bronson, Associate Marketing Manager at Land O’Lakes.   

Social Media Influence  

Have a picky eater? Instagram and TikTok could help with that. In the digital age, it’s no surprise that social media is shaping and influencing what younger generations want to eat.   

“Mouthwatering and eye-catching photos or videos can significantly impact food trends. When food content goes viral, it can help consumers and their families discover and try new flavors, ingredients, prep methods and cooking hacks,” says Tonja Engen, Land O’Lakes Culinary Retail Product and Content Manager.    
Tonja says social media food trends families are tapping into this back-to-school season include bento box lunches for kids, sandwich roll-ups and kid-friendly charcuterie.  

Maggie Maggio, Culinary Manager and Dietitian at Land O’Lakes, says school operators are keeping an eye on social media food trends to inspire their cafeteria menus.   

“Recently, I did see some schools making those TikTok viral quesadilla wraps. That’s where instead of layering all your ingredients in one big pile on a tortilla, you make one cut from the outside edge to the middle, add different fillings to each quadrant, fold the four corners on top of each other, and then bake it in the oven. That’s just one example of how school operators can meet students where they are when it comes to social media, and get them excited about eating more nutritious food,” says Maggie.   

Global Recipes  

Kids get many of their food preferences from their parents. As the children of Millennials, a.k.a. “the Foodie Generation,” Gen Alpha students tend to be more adventurous eaters than previous generations. Dishes in K-12 are becoming more globally influenced, mimicking what kids may be eating at home, seeing online, or eating at restaurants.   

In the St. Paul School District in Minnesota, one of the top selling items for K-12 is a sambusa -- a savory Somali pastry -- which is made locally. Many global recipes are enhanced with the addition of our Land O Lakes® cheese. For example, Galena Park School District in Texas is creating delicious empanadas using Land O Lakes® shredded cheese.   

Learn more 

Curious about what our K-12 operators are cooking up and may be serving in schools near you? Go here. Plus, check out our Land O’Lakes back-to-school recipe collection for more food inspiration at home.