October is National Campus Sustainability Month

Sun upon sun. That’s what you get when menus that taste good – and that students with food allergies can safely enjoy – are also good for the body, soul, and the future of the planet we share.

School foodservice directors are juggling myriad decisions on a given day. The menu experts at SunButter® are here to shine a light on decisions that are good for your program all around!

Simple Sustainable Swaps

Replace resource-intensive ingredients with those that take less energy to produce and less budget to buy.

Win-Win Menuing

Share the facts with students: Food production is responsible for 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Did you know? Beef is by far the biggest greenhouse gas emitter of the food chain.

Producing 1 kg of beef emits nearly 100 kg of CO₂ equivalents.

By contrast, producing 1 kg of sunflower seed butter emits less than 1 kg CO₂ equivalent.*

Switch out that hamburger or sloppy joe with a super tasty toasty. Try a version of Elvis’s favorite sandwich that’s kinder to the environment and safe for students with peanut allergies too!

Raise a toasty to the bright future of all the young kings and queens in your cafeteria:

The King’s Sandwich

Whole Grain Rich Sandwich Bread
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Creamy SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter
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Sliced Bananas
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Optional: Turkey or Plant-Based Bacon

Swine Not?

Animal-based foods generally have a higher carbon footprint than plant-based options. Turn to global cuisines for meatless recipes that are anything but boring, like a hearty Moroccan chickpea stew served with couscous, rice, or whole grain pitas. This stew is full of healthy, tasty, nut-free, planet-friendly ingredients:

Moroccan-Style Chickpea Stew

Chickpeas
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Creamy SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter
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Veggies: Carrots, Tomatoes, Onions, Garlic
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Spices: Cumin, Coriander, Paprika, Cinnamon, Ginger, Turmeric, Black Pepper

Future-Forward Moves for Schools

Every educational community is unique, but we all share the important work of supporting student growth for generations to come. Here are practical tips to try out across school and campus.

Plan for Change

• Choose one new tactic to try, whether it’s Meatless Mondays or a new plant-based serving station
  
• Engage students with Taste It Tuesdays
  
• Share your initiatives with the rest of the school and families
  
• Look for support throughout the community
  

Find the #FoodHeroes

Join the worldwide effort to celebrate those who empower food action. Who is transforming your community through gardening or supporting historically disadvantaged populations?

• Partner with student groups to interview select #FoodHeroes
• Share their stories in school newsletters
• Highlight local food actions throughout the cafeteria
  

Guard Against Food Waste

Considering the resources required to produce food, it’s best not to waste even one bite. Assess food waste trends in your cafeterias and implement reduction strategies accordingly.

• Use portion control items that ensure nothing’s wasted during prep – like SunButter® cups (for K-12 and C&U) and Jammies® Crustless Sunflower Butter and Jelly Sandwiches (for C&U; unavailable for K-12)
  
• Encourage students to place unopened portion control items on a “share table” instead of the trash
  
• Hold Weigh Your Waste events to make students aware of what they throw out
  

Why It Pays to Reach for the Sun

With versatile formats that ease kitchen prep, SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter and Jammies® Crustless Sunflower Butter and Jelly Sandwiches (for C&U only) help support the future of your program.

Better Campus Economics

Looking for a versatile pantry staple that is student friendly, kitchen friendly, and budget friendly? SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter delivers with:

• 100% yield
  
• No-stir convenience
  
• Shelf stability
  
• No refrigeration required
  

Sunny K-12 Meat Alternate

SunButter® is an approved meat alternate in school meal patterns. Delicious for breakfast, lunch, to-go, and offsite meals.

• 1.1 oz Creamy SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter = 1 oz M/MA
  
• 1.4 oz Chocolate SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter = 1 oz M/MA
  
• More vitamins & minerals than most nut butters
  

Sustainability Support

Choose the eco-friendly standout that uses way less water than almonds, with shells recycled for turkey bedding. The sunflower’s heliotropic ability to turn to follow the sun is the secret to SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter’s healthy and sustaining energy for students.

Even a small change to your menus can make a big difference.

*apps.carboncloud.com/climatehub