Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Standardizing Recipes

The Child Nutrition Programs Standardizing Recipes online training.

Course Description

In this interactive module, you will learn how standardizing recipes for Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) is key to ensuring children and adults receive the calories and nutrients they need the CNP meals. You will learn to identify steps to accurately increase or decrease recipe yield to meet meal requirements, and access sample standardized recipes and resources to create standardized recipes for breakfast, lunch, snack, or supper.

The content of this training focuses on applying standardized recipes in School Nutrition Programs, however, the information is applicable to meal service in all CNPs.

  • Course Number: 655
  • Training Length: 30 minutes
  • Certificate: Available at the end of the training
  • Target Audience: Food Service Director and Staff
  • Mandatory: No
  • Cost: Free
  • Date Recorded: August 2017

Online Course

Begin the Standardizing Recipes External link opens in new window or tab. course.

Referenced Resources

Crediting

  • Crediting: 0.5 hour
  • Key Area: Nutrition (1000)
    • Training Topic: Menu Planning (1100)
      • Learning Objective: Write Standardized Recipes (1140)

For more information on crediting, access the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) web document Professional Standards Learning Objectives External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)

Additional Information

  • USDA Food Buying Guide External link opens in new window or tab. manual assists with buying the right amount and the appropriate type of food, and determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements.

  • Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Basic Culinary Math for School Nutrition Professionals External link opens in new window or tab. training provides participants the opportunity to review and practice basic culinary math skills.

  • CDE California Culinary Centers Standardized Recipes web page provides a collection of standardized recipes to support schools across California in creating recipes and preparing menus to meet the National School Lunch Program meal pattern.

Please note that the USDA Mixing Bowl, referenced in the training, has been replaced with resources in Team Nutrition: Team Nutrition | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov) External link opens in new window or tab.. Some are listed here:

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | SNPInfo@cde.ca.go | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition

  • Universal Breakfast (added 15-Nov-2024)
    This management bulletin provides updated guidance for implementing a Universal Breakfast meal service option when school food authorities are not operating under the Universal Meals Program.
  • 2024–25 FFVP Second Allocation Funding Results (added 12-Nov-2024)
    On October 1, 2024 , the CDE NSD awarded and posted the FFVP second allocation grant recipients and funding allocations for School Year 2024–25 on the CDE FFVP Funding Results web page. The FFVP second allocation is October 1, 2024–June 30, 2025.
  • Ventura County State of Emergency (added 08-Nov-2024)
    Governor Newsom proclaims state of emergency in Ventura County due to Mountain Fire.
  • SUN Bucks Web Page is Now Live (added 07-Nov-2024)
    Helpful information for LEAs regarding the SUN Bucks program.
  • Meal Service During Unanticipated School Closures (added 05-Nov-2024)
    The MB was revised to update contact information. Policy guidance has not changed for the School Nutrition and Summer Food Service Programs and remains current.