Non-Traditional Serving Lines

School food operations vary across the country , whether it be in terms of space, students served, or even meal scheduling. As enrollment numbers grow at each school, technology has to evolve to make sure we don’t sacrifice speed while feeding our students just to ensure accuracy of transactions. Currently, many school districts face these challenges.

Directors everywhere are asking themselves, how do they need to get all of the students to walk through the line as quickly as possible while considering the several options to offer to students. Many sites have found that utilizing non-traditional serving lines have helped decrease time spent in the lunch lines, while also increasing participation. 

  • Breakfast in the classroom

Many school districts are already using this method as a way to serve kids in mass bulk. By using a mobile POS software, directors/managers are able to create special rosters and homerooms so that students can be served in bulk 

  • Kiosks

Having small kiosks located throughout your site’s campus helps distribute students away from your main serving line but keeps them actively participating in your program. Kiosks can help target students who are more interested in purchasing a la carte items, leaving more room for those purchasing your reimbursable meals. 

  • Grab N Go Options

Setting up a “Grab ‘N Go” option makes it easier for students to go through any line, whether it be your main one or a kiosk. All of your grab and go options can be built ahead of time to meet USDA guidelines required in a reimbursable meal; this overall can help save time on any decision making being done by the students. 

  • Food Trucks

For schools with courtyards, large parking lots, or any space to spare surrounding the building; food trucks are another great way to serve your students. Gen Z is all about the food truck fad, if you can find a way to incorporate these into your program, you are sure to increase participation and ensure your students aren’t wasting time standing in the lunch lines. 

Offering non-traditional serving lines in conjunction with current technology will help to provide more  flexibility in school cafeterias, increasing participation and engagement from students not otherwise served. The more “lines” available to students, the more students you can serve, and using a mobile POS can make it possible.