In May, we are offering more than 40 different entree selections throughout the month! That means you could go through the entire month without serving the same lunch twice. But if you wanted to, you could, because we also offer 2 - 3 different selections each day. That's flexibility! Continue reading to learn more about our May menu and download a copy.
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Welcome to April at Smart Lunches! Easter Bunnies and Easter Eggs. Spring flowers and April showers. Lengthening days and more time outdoors. We're also anticipating the 2022 National Child Nutrition Conference, April 18 - 22, 2022. If you're attending, look for our ad in the conference program.
Of course, we're also excited to bring your this month's menu. Let's take a closer look at what we're serving to kids from Massachusetts to Virginia in April.
The coming of March means that Spring is around the corner. Smart Lunches is celebrating March with a delicious variety of meals, from French Toast with Eggs to the ever-popular Mac & Cheese, that will put a spring in your step. We offer meals that feature quality lean meats, like turkey or chicken, or you can choose our daily vegetarian selection.
Have you wondered what the process is like to order your meals through Smart Lunches? Our latest video podcast takes you on a virtual tour of our menu strategy and our online ordering portal.
February's menu is here, and we have a great selection of entrees, sides, snacks and breakfasts for you to choose from!
Chili 3 Ways!
Chili is a great way to warm up when it is cold outside. This month, we feature three different chili recipes that kids are sure to love. We have the very popular - and vegetarian - Veggie Chili with Whole Grain Rice, Turkey Chili with Whole Grain Rice, and the tasty Veggie Chili Mac.
Breakfast for Lunch
Breakfast for lunch is a fun way to mix things up for the kids. In February, Smart Lunches will feature our Whole Grain French Toast with Eggs, and our Cheesy Frittata with Whole Wheat Bread. And if you really want to mix things up, we even have Chicken & Waffles!
Expanding Palates
Smart Lunches offers many entrees that introduce flavors of great culinary traditions from around the world. Some examples from our February menu include:
- Arroz Con Pollo
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Lentil Curry
- Turkey Spanish Rice
Download the complete menu for February 2022.
Welcome to 2022! At Smart Lunches, we're entering the year with positivity and excitement. We're safely serving over 4000 lunches a day to kids in preschools and child care centers from Massachusetts to Virginia, and more partners are joining us every week.
All of our meals are prepared off-site and delivered fresh daily - a critical advantage as so many centers are struggling with staffing issues.
We're pleased to share our January 2022 menu, and to point out a few of the highlights.
Whole Grains!
An important feature of our menu, and a key criteria for CACFP, is our commitment to whole grains in every entrée. If you look closely at our menu, you will see that each selection includes whole grain rice, whole grain pasta, whole wheat tortillas, whole grain biscuits, whole wheat bread, or, well, you get the idea.
Explore New Flavors
Another thing you are sure to notice is the variety on our menu. Much has been written about the importance of expanding children's palates as key to establishing good nutrition and eating habits. (You can learn more about this in the 3-part Interview with Elise Lindstrom, RDN from 2021.)
Many of our partners will split their orders between a more traditional selection, like Mac & Cheese, Chicken Nuggets or our Pasta Bake, and something a little more exotic or ethnic. However, you can be certain that these selections are created to gently introduce new flavors with subtle spices, flavor combinations and textures that won't put off your picky eaters.
Featured in January:
- Fiesta Tofu
- Mexican Turkey
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Arroz con Pollo
- Lentil Bolognese
- Chicken Curry
These exceptional entrees are paired with tasty sides like, cucumbers, mashed sweet potatoes, vegetarian baked beans, roasted root vegetables, steamed carrots, Italian green beans, mango, peaches, pineapple, oranges or applesauce.
Download the complete menu for January 2021.
Celebrate the holiday season with hot and hearty meals delivered fresh daily to your preschool, childcare center or adult day care center. Our December 2021 menu is now available, and if you've been considering a change, contact us now to make arrangements for the New Year. If you are located within our service area, and we are able to serve you, we'll be happy to schedule a tasting so you can see for yourself why more kids than ever enjoy Smart Lunches every day.
Featured in December:
- Turkey Sloppy Joe (New)
- Veggie Chili
- Chicken & Waffles
- Turkey Tacos
- Veggie Nuggets
- Lentil Bolognese
- Fiesta Chicken
These exceptional entrees are paired with tasty sides like, cucumbers, mashed sweet potatoes, vegetarian baked beans, roasted root vegetables, steamed carrots, Italian green beans, mango, peaches, pears, oranges or applesauce.
Download the complete menu for December 2021.
Our November menu is available and features (what else?) TURKEY!! However, we guessed that anyone celebrating a traditional Thanksgiving will have plenty of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy without our help, so we got a little creative with our favorite bird.
Here's how Smart Lunches does Turkey in November:
- Korean BBQ Turkey
- Turkey Chili
- Turkey Spanish Rice
- Turkey Tacos
- Mexican Turkey
- Turkey Patty Melt
- Turkey and Tortilla Roll-up
These exceptional entrees are paired with tasty sides like, mashed sweet potatoes, corn, peas and carrots, vegetarian baked beans, roasted root vegetables, mango, peaches, pears or pineapple.
Download the complete menu for November 2021.
Our October menu is out, and we thought we'd share some interesting statistics regarding our selections.
Days Smart Lunches is serving lunches in October: 19
- Total number of different entrees on the menu: 37
- Total days with vegetarian options: 19
- Total days with an egg-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free selection on the menu: 19
- Total number of different ways we're preparing chicken: 12
- Total number of different ways we're preparing turkey: 5
- Total number of different ways we're preparing tofu or lentil selections: 5
- Total number of times beef is on our menu: 2
For variety, nutrition, quality, reliability and value, you can't find a better solution than Smart Lunches.
Here are just a few of our featured selections in October:
- Turkey Spanish Rice
- Korean BBQ Tofu
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Zucchini Parmesan
- Turkey Chili
These exceptional entrees are paired with tasty sides like, mashed sweet potatoes, corn, peas and carrots, Italian green beans, root vegetable medley, mango, peaches, pears or pineapple.
Download the complete menu for October 2021.
September marks the beginning of harvest season - a food fanatic's favorite time of the year. Peaches and apples. Zucchini and cucumbers. Peas, carrots, corn. Plus, the spices, curries and chilis we associate with hearty, full-flavored autumn recipes. You'll find all of this on our September menu...and more.
New selections on the September menu include:
- Veggie Nuggets
- Fish Stick Tacos
These new selections join existing favorites like:
- Chicken Fried Rice
- Teriyaki Veggie Noodles
- Turkey Chili with Whole Grain Rice
- Whole Grain Pizza Bread Sticks
Download the complete menu for September 2021.