PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

NYC DOE Professional Development

Online Synchronous Course

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Program Overview

From Picky to Curious: Engaging Students in Cafeteria Food Exploration

Tuesday November 4, 2025 from 10 AM - 11:30 AM EST.

This is a 1.5-hour synchronous online course open exclusively to Department of Education teachers, administrators and staff.

Program Details

According to Cafeteria Culture, about 45-80% of the food waste in NYC Public School cafeterias went UNTOUCHED. (Source: Mindful Choice Meals, Cafeteria Culture.) Over the past few years, New York City has launched initiatives to improve standards on cafeteria foods including healthy, flavorful, and culturally diverse cuisines. However, students are not exploring these new and improved menus and many of these foods end up going to waste.

Course Take Aways

This workshop is aimed to inform educators about NYPSC cafeteria initiatives in partnership with the Office of Food and Nutrition Services and understand the planning behind cafeteria food. Participants will leave with ideas on how to encourage students to be ‘food critics’, promoting cultural appreciation of food, initiative student incentives to reduce waste in the cafeteria, and encourage student choices with menus.

Learning Obectives

1. Identify common barriers that prevent students from trying new foods.

2. Apply strategies to increase student engagement and curiosity in the cafeteria.

3. Connect food exploration activities to classroom learning, SEL, and cultural responsiveness.

4. Design a mini action plan to promote healthy food choices in their own classrooms or lunchrooms.

5. Develop initiative for student-led cafeteria team to prevent food waste ‘No Thank You Bites’ and promote composting.

Audience

K–8 Teachers, Health Teachers, School Nutrition Staff, Green Team Leaders class

Relevant Materials

Sample classroom activity templates (Voting board, food passports, cultural bulletin boards, taste test reflection sheet)

Activities

NYC Public School Composting Iniative

Grocery Store Field Trip-Bingo Activity

School Lunch Quiz

Be a Food Critic- Poster

USDA- Help Prevent Food Waste

5 Food Groups Poster- Elementary & Middle School

Pre-Registration Form

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