Back to School Checklist for K-12 Operators

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Back to school prep; You’ve got this, we’ve got you. Large green pencil pointing toward a yellow school bag with Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal bar sticking out of the top in front of a blank piece of lined notebook paper.

Increasing Participation

Ensuring all kids are well fed and ready to learn starts with making sure they are participating in your K-12 school meals program. Keep parents and guardians in-the-know about enrollment and create menus that not only meet nutritional needs but generate student excitement.

dark blue check mark sketched over a pale blue dot.

Keep Kids Fed

With our Keep Kids Fed toolkit you can easily spread the word to parents and guardians about the importance of applying to receive benefits, like free and reduced meals. Ready-to-go materials are available in English and Spanish, and many are easily customizable to your school’s needs. 

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Stock Brands Kids Love

From 2 oz. equivalent grain cereal cups to individually wrapped items and yogurt, keeping student favorites on the menu will boost your school meals program.

dark blue check mark sketched over a pale blue dot.

Keep Excitement on the Menu

Explore new flavors and cultures to add some diversity and flair to your menu. Experiment with using flexible ingredients, such as bulk yogurt, in a different way for dips or as the base for a bowl. Get some new ideas that kids will love by checking out our innovative Meal Makers recipe book.

Serving Nutritious Options

You take pride in serving healthy meals to students that keep them energized throughout the day. In addition to coming up with delicious menu options, you also must be mindful of nutrition guidelines. The General Mills Foodservice K-12 portfolio of products meets current standards while also delivering on taste.

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Whole Grains

All our breakfast cereals, individually wrapped frozen entrees, and many snacks are whole grain-rich. 

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Meeting Sodium Targets

More than 80 of our K-12 SKUs fall below 410 mg of sodium and can help you meet weekly sodium targets and balance menus.

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Serving Options with Reduced Sugar

All of our Yoplait® yogurts meet the CACFP sugar requirements and many of our cereals are CACFP-eligible as well.

dark blue check mark sketched over a pale blue dot.

Versatile Products with Benefits

Cereal is a great way to help students start their day. Easy to serve for several different feeding models from the cafeteria to on-the-go, bowlpaks and 2 oz. equivalent grain cereal cups can help you meet nutrition guidelines while offering brands students know and love. Not only is serving cereal an excellent way to meet grain requirements, but it also encourages milk consumption leading to additional vitamin and mineral intake.

Recipe Ideas and Resources

Providing great K-12 meal options is no small feat. Working with versatile products like bulk yogurt and individually wrapped items can help you get creative and incorporate variety in your menu. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite recipes and resources to kickstart your menu planning for the coming year. Check it out and get inspired. We are always here to share exciting ideas to help boost your school meals program!


There’s a seat at the table for everyone written around four pictures of children eating organized in the shape of a plate with a fork and spoon on either side of the plate with a beige background.

Keeping Kids Fed

Serve up excitement; give students choice bring them joy with exclaiming lines sketched around the words. Girl joyfully takes a bite out of a chicken sandwich on a biscuit. A bowl of cereal, parfait cup, and basket of fries pictured below text on teal background.

Serve up Excitement Toolkit

ParfaitPro Possibilities Endless Inspiration for K-12 Creations written in white font on a bright red background.

K-12 Yoplait® ParfaitProᵀᴹ Possibilities

Two kids smile at the camera while eating a meal together.

K-12 Product and Resource Guide