Farm to School Cycle Menu

The NE Iowa Farm to School Cycle Menu was created by school food service directors as an easy way to incorporate more Iowa-grown foods onto school lunch trays. It has over three years of implementation and testing in 4 school districts ranging in size from 300-1700 students.

The cycle menu is a project of the NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative, ISU Extension and Outreach, and Luther College Center for Sustainable Communities.  It was funded by grants from USDA Farm to School grant and Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

• 5 week cycle menu
• Incorporates Iowa-grown foods each week including fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy
• Fall, Winter and Spring variations
• Meets the nutrition requirements of the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act for grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12
• Uses recipes from sources like USDA Recipes for Schools, Iowa Gold Star Cycle menu, Healthier Kansas Menus, etc.

Farm to School Cycle Menu - Fall Cycle (August - November) (pdf)

         Components and Nutrition for:    Week 1     Week 2     Week 3     Week 4     Week 5

Farm to School Cycle Menu - Winter Cycle (pdf)

Farm to School Cycle Menu - Spring Cycle (pdf)

Summary of Iowa-grown foods used in the menu (pdf)

Iowa CACFP Menu with Best Practices

Recipe Sources:

• Healthier Kansas Menus
• Iowa Gold Star Cycle Menus
• USDA Recipes for Schools
• NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative F2S Recipe page
• Massachusetts Farm to School Cookbook
• The Lunchbox
  

Related Information:

• Summary Report, "Implementing a seasonal cycle menu for public schools featuring Iowa-grown and processed foods"
  
• Local pork on school menus: A win-win situation
• Schools embrace farm to school connection, Wallaces Farmer, May 2015
  
• ISU program increases local food usage in Iowa schools, Ames Tribune, 7/8/2015
  
• Farmers and Students Benefit as Local Food Initiative in Iowa Exceeds Expectations, Seedstock, 8/17/15
  

Questions about the cycle menu may be directed to Teresa Wiemerslage, ISU Extension, 563-794-0599.