More than ever, parents and communities are concerned about the level of nutrition, taste, and food hygiene that is presented in school cafeterias. School foodservice can play an important role in helping students establish lifelong, healthy eating patterns. But, once a healthy menu has been established, the next challenge is how to present those items in the most effective and efficient manner.
While free school lunch lines are getting longer and lunch periods pass by faster than ever, school nutrition supervisors and foodservice staff are looking at ways to increase full-paying student participation (which has caused a $438 million dollar loss in school meal programs during the 2019-2020 school year).
At the same time, they are looking for ways to operate more efficiently to meet the increased demand for free school lunch and to attract a student demographic that is looking for unconventional food services.
What is mobile foodservice in schools?
A multipronged school nutrition approach that includes mobile food serving lines can help move students more quickly, reduce prolonged student congregating, and increase student participation - all while maintaining food safety and sanitation guidelines.
Mobile foodservice in schools must use the right school foodservice equipment that allows students to quickly grab or select meals and healthy snacks at key locations, either within the cafeteria or at other convenient locations on school grounds. Mobile foodservice has already shown success in reaching children in underserved communities.
Food kiosks, mobile carts, and mobile food serving lines that feature fast and nutritional hot and cold meals like soup and salad, veggie pizza, sandwiches, pasta salad, along with healthy snacks and drinks can meet the demands of a student population that not only has picky eating tastes, but are more prone to eat healthy foods that are served in a way that is similar to fast food venues.
Benefit of mobile food serving lines
Mobile food serving lines are a step in the right direction when you want to meet and feed a student population where they are and with what they prefer. The same nutritional value can be found in smaller food packages and at mobile sites, as long as the food selection contains nutrient-dense products.
Other benefits of mobile food serving lines include:
- Streamline operations and/or isolate food choices between full meals and healthy food on-the-go
- Reconfigures serving lines to move faster and are located at more convenient locations
- Offers students and parents flexibility to overcome the lunch hour rush and limited menu options
- Food selections can be quickly changed to fit inventory, seasonal availability, and supply chain shortages
School foodservice equipment is available to present pre-prepared food, salad or soup bars, or a simple pick-and-go menu with healthy sandwiches, fruit, and fresh veggies. Mobile foodservice in schools accommodates smaller cafeteria spaces or school programs where attendance levels can change quickly.
Multiteria school foodservice equipment
Multiteria offers a wide range of equipment to support mobile foodservice in schools, including lunchtime kiosks and our M-Power flexible serving counters that feature cold wells and/or hot wells that promote efficient mobile food stations. These island and counter food stations also include common-sense features like an integrated glove box, spray bottle holders, and a USB port.
Our expert designers have listened to the needs of school nutritionists and foodservice operators to come up with school foodservice equipment that is attractive, easy-to-clean, and provides the right amount of serving space that meets the needs of your student population.
Multiteria can provide a custom solution to your school foodservice needs by examining your school's unique traffic patterns, the size of your area, and accommodation for all electrical and plumbing requirements. Contact us today, or visit Multiteria online to learn more about transitioning parts or all of your school foodservice operations to one that is flexible and versatile.
