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(877) TEX-MEAL (Se habla Español)
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Programs > National School Lunch Program > Meal Pattern Modernization Grant
Meal Pattern Modernization Grant
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USDA Grant  Maximize 

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is working with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to provide in-person classes at the CIA campus in San Antonio. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) FY 2024 TN Training Grants for Meal Pattern Modernization and Retention and Mentorship Opportunities. The USDA grant will also enable TDA to develop a library of online resources for schools across Texas. Both efforts will help schools use more scratch cooking and develop new techniques for making school meals healthy and appealing. The grant also aims to help schools meet the requirements set forth in USDA’s Final Rule, Child Nutrition: 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.


Meal Pattern Modernization Workshops  Maximize 
The Meal Pattern Modernization workshops are five-day workshops with daily demonstrations, hands-on activities, and classroom instruction.
  • During the week, participants will prepare approximately 100 delicious and nutritious recipes! 
  • Each day will include six hours of training led by experienced and certified culinary trainers with nutritional expertise.
  • Participants will earn 30 continuing education hours (CEs)/3 continuing education units (CEUs) from the School Nutrition Association.

Workshops will take place during spring break and summer break in 2026 and 2027 and there are 30 spots available. All school nutrition leaders in Texas are encouraged to apply.
 

Applications  Maximize 
Applications:
All applications will be reviewed using established scoring criteria. Invited school districts must be in good standing and working to increase the amount of scratch cooking in their meals. Other considerations include challenges faced related to meeting sodium, added-sugar, and whole-grain requirements of the Final Rule.


Who Should Apply:
All school nutrition leaders in Texas are encouraged to apply! We are seeking participants directly involved in menu planning and the preparation of school meals (e.g. dietitians, menu planners, head chefs, kitchen managers). 

Ideally, 2 participants per district will participate in a workshop but no more than 4 participants per district. We encourage districts to send more than one participant to ensure the successful transition of knowledge back to the district.

How much does it cost:
The workshops are paid for by the USDA’s FY 2024 TN Training Grants for Meal Pattern Modernization and Retention and Mentorship Opportunities, which includes 5 days of training, supplies, breakfasts, and lunches (that you may have cooked!) each day.

Districts will have to pay for travel and hotel costs but negotiated rate hotels will be available.

Application Coming Soon!  Maximize 
TDA will open the application for the Workshops on October 1, 2025, and the deadline to apply is January 5, 2026.

Resources  Maximize 

Resources will be available soon!

Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help. Additional translations services available as well.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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