The Kansas Beef Council is supplying resources to the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) for distribution to schools across the state who participate in the agency’s Farm Fresh Fridays Challenge. Through this program, KSDE is celebrating Kansas farmers by encouraging schools to offer a meal consisting of at least two locally sourced menu items one Friday per month or more. The challenge continues through June. When schools sign up, they receive a kit that includes beef resources, like coloring books, beef cuts brochures and six new foodservice recipes showcasing beef as an important part of a healthy diet for kids and an essential component of healthy school meals. So far, 66 child nutrition serving sites have signed up and are participating in the program.
Additionally, KSDE is highlighting three ground beef recipes in their “Tasty Takes on Children’s Favs” culinary class for childcare providers. This class teaches back-to-basics culinary techniques and helps childcare providers learn how to make popular frozen meal items from scratch. Beef recipes highlighted include beef sausage breakfast burritos, beef taco meat and beef miniature taco pockets. The class will be offered at six locations across the state this spring and will be led by a chef instructor. Participants also will learn about safe food handling, cost analysis and basic beef cooking techniques through checkoff-funded resources.