School Recipes | Mushroom Info

Vegetables from all “subgroups” are required for a healthy, balanced diet, but “other” vegetables can really set the curve on your school lunch menus.
With 37 vegetables to choose from, the “Other” vegetable group contains more superfoods – including mushrooms – than any other vegetable category.
This group includes some of kids’ favorite foods, like green beans, avocados, onions, celery, cucumber, and of course, mushrooms!
Start your menus by placing the flavorful “other vegetables” throughout the week and easily add the remaining subgroups to achieve school meals that are delicious and nutritious.

Very low in calories, sodium and fat – and cholesterol-free, mushrooms provide a hearty, meaty flavor that can be used in virtually any cuisine.
Blend chopped mushrooms with meat, so students’ favorite meals can be made healthier without losing taste, volume or satisfying texture, encouraging students to crave vegetables.
Mushrooms are rich in umami – the fifth taste described as a savory, meaty taste sensation. Combining umami-rich ingredients has a flavor multiplying effect, which explains the delicious pairing of mushrooms and meat.
On average, mushrooms have 90 percent fewer calories than a ground meat alternative* and add important nutrients like vitamin D, potassium**, riboflavin, niacin and the antioxidants selenium and ergothioneine.
Fresh mushrooms are available year round and commercially produced in almost every state by more than 282 growers.

* Ground meat includes an average of traditional and lean versions of ground beef, turkey and pork per 100 grams.
** Potassium (8%)

Add vegetables with mushroom blendability: replace a portion of ground meat with mushrooms

Blend finely chopped mushrooms with ground meat in every serving of a meat-based meal, and your program can:

Add at least 1/8 cup other vegetables to every tray
Expand meat entrées – maintain portion size while staying within meat maximums
Reduce calories, saturated fat and sodium, and increase nutrition in each serving
Maintain taste, texture, and student acceptability

In the USDA’s New Meal Pattern, you can use a combination of finely chopped mushrooms and proteins every day of the week.