---
title: Heartland School Solutions | Connections | School Breakfast
description: School Breakfast |
---
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# 
Fresh insights for school leaders
## [\[New Designs\] Free School Menu Templates For The 2026-27 School Year!](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/free-school-menu-templates)
By [Emily Schoeneck](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/emily-schoeneck)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/free-school-menu-templates)
Our school menu templates are now available for the 2026-27 school year. This year, we have a brand new set of designs, as well as an ADA-friendly format option.
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/free-school-menu-templates)
## [How to Host a Successful Taste Test in Your School Cafeteria](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/how-to-host-a-successful-taste-test-in-your-school-cafeteria)
By [Morgan Billings](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/morgan-billings)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/how-to-host-a-successful-taste-test-in-your-school-cafeteria)
It's no secret that students can get tired of eating the same thing over and over again. Offering different and new menu items can freshen up your meals and get students excited about eating in the cafeteria. Hosting a taste test event is a great way to get students involved in choosing new menu items and learning more about their preferences. A successful taste test gives students the opportunity to try new recipes and share valuable feedback before you start serving them on a regular basis.
**Getting started is easier than you think! Here are some strategies to help make your taste testing event successful:**
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/how-to-host-a-successful-taste-test-in-your-school-cafeteria)
## [How Schools & Students Are Working Together to Ditch Plastic Straws](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/how-schools-students-are-working-together-to-ditch-plastic-straws)
By [Nate Winans](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/nate-winans)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/how-schools-students-are-working-together-to-ditch-plastic-straws)
Every day across the United States, approximately[500 million plastic straws](https://www.nps.gov/articles/straw-free.htm) make their way into landfills. That's enough used plastic straws to circle the earth 2.5 times or fill 46,400 school buses. Scientists estimate that it can take hundreds of years for a single plastic straw to decompose. With that in mind, many schools and student-led organizations across the country are looking to reduce or eliminate plastic straws on campus and in their communities.
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/how-schools-students-are-working-together-to-ditch-plastic-straws)
## [We Surveyed over 90,000 Parents. Here's What We Learned About School Communication.](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/back-to-school-time-is-approaching)
By [Nate Winans](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/nate-winans)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/back-to-school-time-is-approaching)
Every year we offer free [MySchoolBucks](https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home) materials so districts can share the benefits of online payments with parents. To make sure we're providing the best marketing resources to districts, we surveyed over 90,000 parents to learn more about how they receive school communications and used this information to grow our offerings!
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/back-to-school-time-is-approaching)
## [How Much Waste Does Your Cafeteria Throw Away in a Day?](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/how-much-waste-does-your-cafeteria-throw-away-in-a-day)
By [Sara Shipley](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/sara-shipley)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/how-much-waste-does-your-cafeteria-throw-away-in-a-day)
That's a great question and likely one that many nutrition programs may not be able to answer. It’s estimated that K-12 schools throw away roughly [$1.2 billion dollars](https://ensia.com/features/school-food-waste-solutions/) worth of food each year! [One study found that K-12 schools in Minnesota](https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-p2s6-14.pdf) generated 483,520 lbs. of waste in a given school day and the most prominent category of items filling up the trash cans was food waste.
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/how-much-waste-does-your-cafeteria-throw-away-in-a-day)
## [Start Your Engines For National School Breakfast Week!](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/start-your-engines-for-national-school-breakfast-week)
By [Morgan Billings](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/morgan-billings)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/start-your-engines-for-national-school-breakfast-week)
**Start Your Engines** for[**National School Breakfast Week**, **March 4-8**!](http://schoolnutrition.org/meetings/events/nsbw/2019/) National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) is the perfect opportunity to promote breakfast and show why it's the most important meal of the day. Eating breakfast is a great way for students to start their morning off on the right foot and help provide enough energy to last throughout the day. It also helps boost overall health and academic performance in school.
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/start-your-engines-for-national-school-breakfast-week)
## [The Mission Hasn't Changed...But the Methods Have.](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/themissionhasntchanged)
By [Erica Prismantas](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/erica-prismantas)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/themissionhasntchanged)
Since the National School Lunch Act was first signed in 1946, a lot has changed in the world of school nutrition. Meal requirements have been defined and redefined, federal cuts and grants have altered the way programs are managed, and of course the advent of technology has completely changed the way your program operates.
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/themissionhasntchanged)
## [Happy National School Breakfast Week!](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/happy-national-school-breakfast-week-2018)
By [Morgan Billings](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/morgan-billings)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/happy-national-school-breakfast-week-2018)
It’s that time of the year again! Today kicks off this year's National School Breakfast Week from March 5-9. This year's theme is '*I Love School Breakfast*' and is the perfect opportunity for you to boost student participation, increase revenue in your cafeterias, and inform students about the importance of eating a healthy breakfast.
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/happy-national-school-breakfast-week-2018)
## [Heartland Welcomes MealViewer](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/mealviewer-joins-heartland)
By [Erica Prismantas](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/erica-prismantas)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/mealviewer-joins-heartland)
We’re thrilled to announce that MealViewer has joined the Heartland family!
[**MealViewer**](https://www.mealviewer.com/directors-home/) is a communication tool for parents, students, and schools
that can help boost participation and grow your program.
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/mealviewer-joins-heartland)
## [Have You Started Planning for Back to School Season? Consider Turning Your Meal Program Up a Notch!](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/have-you-started-planning-for-back-to-school-season-consider-turning-your-meal-program-up-a-notch)
By [Renee Pisaturo](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/renee-pisaturo)
- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
[](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/have-you-started-planning-for-back-to-school-season-consider-turning-your-meal-program-up-a-notch)
Most have started – thinking, planning, and organizing for the 2017-2018 school year. It's never too early to begin organizing materials, student class enrollment, back to school kick off, student registration events, and fall programs.
Does student lunch participation come to mind? How do you plan to get more students involved in purchasing lunch? Do you consider the short lunch period – where cafeteria staff feel rushed to transact students and make sure they have time to eat?
**Our research shows that for every student who submits cash or check payment, it can take up to 7 seconds for the transaction to complete.**
What does that mean? 50 students could add 6 minutes to each lunch period. If those same students prepaid for their meals, more time can be spent making additional sales at your serving lines.
MySchoolBucks provides a[library](http://marketingcentral.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/msb_meal_pay/msb_marketing_guide_meals.html) of supporting material to help promote its service to students and parents. Utilizing these FREE resources can help get the word out to parents, increase participation and speed up your serving lines!
Promotional materials are also available for [School Store](https://www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com/school-solutions/payment-solutions/school-store) users. Promote a school event, apparel, tech fees and more! Create a custom flyer, add your own message and logo and have them sent directly to you.
To place an order or access any of these materials, be sure to visit [MySchoolBucks Marketing Central](http://marketingcentral.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/msb_meal_pay/msb_marketing_guide_meals.html).
---
[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/have-you-started-planning-for-back-to-school-season-consider-turning-your-meal-program-up-a-notch)
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### Nutrition Technology
- [Point of Sale](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/nutrition-technology/point-of-sale)
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