PFLD School Food Service

For School Food Service
Directors, Managers, and Teams

Get ready for the next national Plastic Free Lunch Day
April 19th, 2023!

Dallas ISD, San Diego USD, Baltimore City, LA USD,
DeKalb County, GA and NYC public schools
joined the Nov 2022 plastic-free lunch action!
Is your school district next?

Schools everywhere are invited to participate!

Start planning now for an April action day:
🌮 a handheld food day -> no plastic utensils!
🥒 sliced veggies + dip Salad Bar
💚 a no-condiment packet day -> serve in bottles

ABOUT

Plastic Free Lunch Day overview flyer
(what? what? QR code + free movie sign up)

WHY?

US Schools serve 7.35 billion meals annually. These meals are packed with non-biodegradable single-use plastics (SUPs) that make a significant contribution to the US plastic waste stream and the staggering global plastic pollution problem. Most of these SUPs end up in a landfill or environment. Plastic Free Lunch Day (PFLD) USA provides an opportunity for students to learn about plastic pollution and for students and school food staff to take meaningful plastic-reduction action.

One plastic free day leads to another!
Join us in creating a vision for an equitable and sustainable future.

RESOURCE CHEKCLIST

Promotion and Communication

School Leadership Email Template

Social made easy:

Social Media Kit - (copy suggested posts)
Social Media graphics - ready to go templates (in Google folder; add your logo/ date options)

Help us document this national day of action:

Photo and Video; tips sheet and shot examples -> & share with us to help build momentum for the next PFLD!

USFA Member PFLD Press Release Template (copy, adapt and add your logo)
All District PFLD Press Release Template (copy, adapt and add your logo)
See downloadable PFLD FLYERS below
**new! PFLD Spanish flyer - (add your logo!)
PFLD Promotion Tip Sheet

PFLD overview flyer (what? what? QR code + free movie sign up)
Morning Announcements -Template (for 5 days leading up to PFLD)
Letter Template to Families everywhere (copy and adapt)
NYC Letter template to Families for monthly Plastic Free Lunch Days, starting Nov 2, 2022! (copy and adapt)

Sample Menu for Plastic Free Lunch Day (see photos below)

Movie/ Video inspiration for students, teachers, staff and families!

Free Movie Screening! Create school-wide engagement for Plastic Free Lunch Day with a free screening of Microplastic Madness, Cafeteria Culture's student-led, award winning movie. After an in-depth investigation of plastic pollution in their community, 5th grade students look at their own plastic use in the cafeteira and lead the first Plastic Free Lunch Day. This is an uplifting and informative movie, guaranteed to spark a lively classroom discussion and inspire action! Sign up for your free movie link -> (free for all K-12 schools through Nov. 23, 2022); available with Spanish Subtitles
Plastic Free Lunch Day USA promo video (3 mins)- share on cafeteria and school screens and in the classroom as part of morning announcements

Issue Briefs

Cost Savings from Plastic-Reducing Food Service Adaptations
Covid & Plastic Foodware: Why Grab and Go Food Dispensing Methods do not Prevent COVID-19 Transmission
PLASTIC IS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL: How plastic is making us fat & sick
Reusable Dishware: Calculate Cost Savings

(more reports and videos in our Resource Library ->)

MENU IDEAS

San Diego Unified School District will eliminate as much single-use plastic with no sporks
• Dipper bar at all salad bars districtwide will include- celery sticks, carrot sticks, grape tomatoes, cucumber slices and broccoli florets. Dipping sauces to include Ranch and Italian dressing, homemade salsas and dressings encouraged. Fresh fruit to include seasonal cut fruit and HOTM, no canned fruit will be served on this day.
• Veggie burger will be offered in place of prepackaged salads at secondary sites.

The NYC Plastic Free Lunch Day menu served on May 16, 2022 was all handheld food: pizza, accompanied by a crudité style Salad Bar, and fresh fruit; no utensils needed (see the Menu Preparation video below).

Other ideas for a plastic free, handheld menu include:
- mozzarella sticks
- tacos, burritos
- egg rolls
- burgers

Additionally:
- no condiment packets; dipping sauce and dressing is in squeeze bottles or served directly onto the plate.
- sandwiches served without being individually wrapped in plastic film (prepared and served bulk style in trays with aluminum foil covers0;
and
- utensils given "by request only"
- water cups are also “by request only.”

NYC public schools will serve a monthly "Plastic Free Lunch" menu, including Mozzarella Sticks with marinara sauce, Roasted Fresh Broccoli and Cauliflower Garlic Knot.

If your schools are still using styrofoam trays, these paper boats are a cost neutral alternative for non-saucy menus.

PREPARATION TIPS VIDEO

Training video for kitchen staff - created for NYC's May 16th, 2022 PFLD
Plastic Free Lunch Day - Menu Preparation & Tips for Kitchen Staff
Created by CafeteriaCulture.org in partnership with NYC Department of Education Office of Food and Nutrition Services and Office of Sustainability. This video shows you how to prepare the PLASTIC FREE LUNCH DAY MENU that was served to over 750 elementary schools on Monday May 16th, 2022.

Jump to each part, as listed below.
00:38 PIZZA
02:01 PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY or SUNFLOWER BUTTER SANDWICHES
04:50 CHEESE SANDWICHES
07:04 BROCCOLI
08:36 ORANGES
09:58 SALAD BAR