Reimagining School Meals From a Systems Thinking Perspective: A Case Study of School Meal Supply Chain Collaboration...

Food policies and standards regulate school meal equity and quality, yet there is a complex system involved in translating and implementing these standards. To catalyze systems-level thinking in school meals, stakeholders across the supply chain were asked to collaborate in examining the role of dairy as representative of broader food system opportunities and challenges in California school meals.

This descriptive case study applied the What, So What, Now What reflective framework, 19 phone interviews of school nutrition directors and dairy processors, conducted from August to September 2024, logged current practices, infrastructures, supports and insights. Results informed an in-person convening of 40 supply chain stakeholders in January 2025. At the convening, three presentations, four themed small-group dialogues and a strategic planning session sought options for improving student wellness by modifying the school meal system.

Interviews focused on the "what," gathering facts about procurement, nutrition and policy compliance challenges. Convening dialogues focused on the "so what," making meaning of the challenges and expanding knowledge on dairy innovation and the future of school meals from different perspectives across the supply chain. The strategic planning session (the "now what") revealed opportunities that were shaped into actionable next steps emphasizing farm-to-cafeteria nutrition education, incorporating a wider cultural variety of dairy foods and activating local food system partnerships and professional development across the food supply chain.

Collaboration and structured systems thinking identified next steps for dairy that support the supply chain from processors to foodservice professionals to student consumers. Using a systems thinking framework allowed stakeholders to understand the issues more objectively, consider different perspectives and identify actionable solutions. Outcomes also suggest supply chain collaboration can be a replicable blueprint for troubleshooting other institutional food systems.