Reality Check: Here’s a cheat sheet on what’s ahead for K-12 foodservice

Even in the best of times, few food-away-from-home segments are as complicated and demanding as the K-12 market. And these are definitely not the best of times. In addition to the usual budgetary issues, school foodservice directors (FSDs) are facing major revisions of what the government is defining as “healthy,” or what should be on kids’ cafeteria trays. What’s that going to mean for the FSDs? Here's what Danielle Bock, this year’s K-12 Silver Plate Winner and chairperson of our school Foodservice Leadership Council, expects in 2026.