Low participation in school meal and snacking programs has K-12 foodservice operators looking for solutions that meet nutritional guidelines while providing flavorful options. Total lunch participation dipped from a pre-pandemic level of 29.7 million students in 2018 to 28.5 million in 2023, according to the research firm Technomic.1 Lack of time to eat and food quality are key factors in the falloff.1 Although roughly one-third of schools are allocating more time for lunch, nutrition regulations, labor challenges, and rising costs compound these struggles.1
The Good News—And Great Options from The Snack That Smiles Back!®
Over the next two to three years, 56% of operators expect an increase in participation in the National School Lunch Program, and 62% believe participation in the National School Breakfast Program will grow.1 Student-favorite Goldfish® products and recipes can help.
As the #1 cracker brand in households with kids under 12, based on sales,2 Whole Grain Goldfish® Crackers, Pretzels, and Graham varieties offer the quality, convenience, and versatility that K-12 operators need to increase meal and snack program participation. Convenient options like single-serve Whole Grain Goldfish® pouches help operators meet students’ needs for quick and high-quality reimbursable snacks. They can also be part of a reimbursable meal.
These six recipes show how easily Whole Grain Goldfish® can add wholesome variety to the menu and bring smiles to students, parents, and operators.
“Focus on menu ideation and creative recipe ideas that enhance flavor while meeting nutritional guidelines.”
—Technomic, K-12 Multi-Client Study, 2024
Apple Dunkers made with Goldfish®Grahams Baked with Whole Grain Honey Bun Crackers
Get students’ day off to a delicious start with a quick breakfast combo featuring red apple slices, sunflower seed butter, low-fat (1%) milk, orange juice, and a single-serving pouch of Goldfish® Grahams Baked with Whole Grain Honey Bun Crackers.
Perfect as a reimbursable meal that requires minimal preparation, this recipe combines flavor, fun, and function to help operators meet nutritional standards while appealing to young taste buds. Students love dunking the crisp apple slices in the smooth, creamy butter and topping them with the Goldfish® grahams.
Meal Components: (1 M/MA, 1 oz. Grain Equiv. [WG], 1 Milk, 1 Fruit)
View Recipe
Oatmeal Topped with Peaches and Giant Goldfish® made with Whole Grain Grahams
Treat students to a breakfast favorite with a fun, flavorful twist—a cup of cooked quick oats drizzled with maple-flavored syrup and made even more scrumptious with sliced peaches and Giant Goldfish® Cinnamon Grahams Baked with Whole Grain.
Packed with the flavor of cinnamon that kids and teens love, each single serving of Giant Goldfish® Grahams counts as 1 ounce of grain equivalent to meet nutritional standards while bringing students smiles. Make this a fully reimbursable breakfast by adding sliced apples, orange juice, and low-fat milk.
Meal Components: (2 oz. Grain Equiv. [WG], 1 Milk, 1 Fruit)
View Recipe
Egg-Celent Lunch Bistro Box with Goldfish® made with Whole Grain Cheddar Crackers
Recharge students with a protein-packed lunch box that also offers the whole grain goodness of Goldfish®. This filling and flavorful lunch features two hard-cooked eggs, broccoli florets, red or green seedless grapes, a whole grain roll, low-fat milk (1%), and a single-serving pouch of Goldfish® Baked with Whole Grain Cheddar Crackers.
Always baked and made with 100% real cheddar cheese, the Whole Grain Goldfish® crackers add a satisfying crunch to this reimbursable lunch. This meal minimizes effort while maximizing flavor and makes it easier for operators to meet nutritional requirements.
Meal Components: (3 M/MA, 2 oz. Grain Equiv. [WG], 3/4 cup Dark Green Vegetables, 1 Milk, 1 Fruit)
View Recipe
Chicken Strip Bistro Lunch Box with Goldfish® made with Whole Grain Cheddar Crackers
Appeal to students with a wholesome lunch and meet nutritional guidelines with this fowl- and fish-tastic option, featuring whole grain chicken strips, tater tots, whole-kernel corn, unsweetened applesauce, apple juice, low-fat (1%) milk, and a single-serving pouch of Goldfish® Baked with Whole Grain Cheddar Crackers.
This complete, reimbursable lunch combo is sure to keep students going. A great portable option, students love the gratifying flavors of this multi-item meal.
Meal Components: (2 M/MA, 2 oz. Grain Equiv. [WG], 1 cup Additional Vegetables, 1 Milk, 1 Fruit)
View Recipe
Mix and Dip Hummus Lunch Served with Goldfish® made with Whole Grain Cheddar
This vegetarian delight drives lunch participation with savory hummus, carrot and red bell pepper strips, red or green seedless grapes, a stick of part-skim-milk cheese, and Goldfish® Baked with Whole Grain Cheddar Crackers.
The combined crunch of the veggie strips and Goldfish® crackers makes this reimbursable meal especially fun and taste tempting. Students enjoy scooping up hummus with the veggie strips and mixing in the Goldfish® crackers for enhanced taste and texture.
Meal Components: (2 M/MA, 1 oz. Grain Equiv. [WG], 1/2 cup Red/Orange Vegetable, 1 Milk, 1/2 Fruit)
View Recipe
Goldfish® Sun Dippers made with Giant Whole Grain Vanilla Grahams
The ideal combo of grab-and-go convenience and gratifying flavor, this Sun Dipper recipe features Goldfish®Whole Grain Vanilla Giant Grahams and sun butter for a snack that keeps kids and teens coming back.
Students delight in dipping the grahams in the sunflower seed butter—a palate-pleasing, peanut-free alternative that eliminates worry for parents of kids and teens with peanut allergies. Students get a kick out of the giant-size format of The Snack That Smiles Back!®
Meal Components: (This can be part of a reimbursable breakfast with additional items added by the operator. It provides 1 M/MA, 1 oz. Grain Equiv. [WG]. It can also be part of a reimbursable CACFP or Afterschool snack.)
View Recipe
1 Technomic, K-12 Multi-Client Study, 2024
2 Circana Panel, Total US – MULO, Dollar and Unit Sales, L52 wks ending 2/18/24
