The Texas Department of Agriculture will be hosting exclusive, five-day culinary workshops throughout 2026 and 2027 through USDA’s FY24 TN Training Grants for Meal Pattern Modernization and Rentention and Mentorship Opportunities. These workshops will include culinary lectures & demonstrations, practical kitchen experiences, kitchen education, and nutrition education. The goal of these workshops is to better equip school nutrition professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to further incorporate scratch cooking and implement USDA’s Final Rule - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Participants will also receive a Certificate of Participation/Proof of Attendance for 23.75 CEUs from the School Nutrition Association for those who attend all five-days of the workshop.
We are seeking school nutrition professionals who are directly involved in menu planning and the preparation of school meals (e.g. dietitans, menu planners, chefs, kitchen managers). These individuals will be tasked with bringing back the gained knowledge and skills to their teams to further improve child nutrition.
If you are interested in attending the workshop, please complete and submit this application by 11/06/2026. We encourage you to submit the application as early as possible to increase the likelihood of receiving your first choice date and location. Please contact FFCulinary@texasagriculture.gov with any questions or visit SquareMeal for further information.