School nutrition is constantly evolving. New nutrition standards, changing student preferences, tighter budgets, and the ongoing challenge of increasing participation all require school nutrition professionals to think differently about what goes on the tray. But sometimes innovation doesn't mean adding something complicated. Sometimes it's about taking ingredients already available in the cafeteria and looking at them differently. In a recent episode of Nutrismart SNAX, Maur

As school nutrition professionals, we spend every day nourishing others. But how often do we stop to think about nourishing ourselves? In this episode of NutriSmart SNAX, Maureen Pisanick sits down with functional medicine physician Dr. Marcus Cirelli of Balance Holistic Health Center to explore how investing in personal health ultimately improves the way we serve students. Their conversation moves beyond menus and meal patterns to discuss the growing importance of whole food

Food safety may not be the flashiest topic in school nutrition, but it is one of the most important. Every meal served in a school cafeteria represents a promise to families that their children are receiving food that is not only nutritious and delicious, but also safe. In a recent episode of the NutriSmart Snax podcast, host Maureen Pisanick sat down with Jason Miller of Innovative Solutions Group/SFSPac to discuss practical food safety strategies that help school nutrition

Technology has become one of the most valuable tools in today's school nutrition programs. From speeding up serving lines to protecting student privacy and improving access to healthy meals, modern point-of-sale systems are doing much more than simply processing transactions. In a recent episode of the NutriSmart Snax Podcast, Maureen Pisanick sat down with Lisa Good, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at PaySchools, to discuss how school nutrition technology is changing t

In our latest NutriSmart Snax podcast, we sit down with procurement expert Kevin Crampton from HPS to discuss how school nutrition leaders can leverage data, technology, and strategic partnerships to work smarter, not harder.

In school nutrition, success is about more than serving meals. It’s about creating experiences, building relationships, and giving students and staff a sense of ownership in the cafeteria culture. In a recent Click to Watch Full Episode episode of NutriSmart Snax, Jennifer Bujak-Hirsch joined Maureen Pisanick to share how student engagement, leadership development, and team empowerment have transformed her district’s nutrition program into an award-winning example of innovati

Explore the creativity behind the Pisanick Partners Mystery Chef Competition featuring innovative school-friendly recipes created by school nutrition professionals. View the digital recipe book and discover menu inspiration for K-12 cafeterias.

How Fresh Produce, Teamwork, and Creativity Are Transforming Student Meals When it comes to improving school nutrition, few initiatives are as impactful, and as inspiring, as produce bars. On a recent episode of the NutriSmart Podcast, we sat down with leaders from Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) to explore how they are bringing fresh fruits and vegetables to life for students across their district. What we uncovered wasn’t just a story about salad bars - it was

In school nutrition, leadership doesn’t always start in the boardroom - it often begins in the kitchen. In this episode of the NutriSmart Snax podcast, Maureen Pisanick sits down with Andrew Mendez RDN, CC, LD, Nutrition Services Director at Kenston Local Schools, to unpack what it really means to grow as a leader in school nutrition. Click to Watch Full Episode Their conversation is packed with practical insights, personal stories, and actionable strategies for anyone—from f