USA Pulses
Pulses Toolkit – Educating School Nutrition Professionals About the Health Benefits of Pulses
Strategy
To increase the use of pulses in school nutrition programs, USA Pulses needed an educational resource that effectively communicated the health benefits, sustainability advantages, and culinary versatility of pulses. The goal was to provide school foodservice professionals, registered dietitians (RDs), and media with research-backed information that was both engaging and easy to implement. To accomplish this, we:
- Developed a science-based, visually compelling Educational Toolkit to showcase the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses, as well as practical recipes for school meal programs.
- Aligned with CAP research demonstrating that adding 2 servings (1 cup) of cooked beans or chickpeas daily can improve overall diet quality by 20%, reinforcing the importance of pulses in school meals.
- Distributed the Toolkit strategically to:
- Relevant RD events to engage the greater nutrition community.
- Media outreach efforts to broaden awareness and credibility.
- School Foodservice Professionals who participated in a survey, ensuring those making purchasing and menu decisions had direct access to the resource.
- Webinar attendees, providing them with a takeaway tool to implement pulse-based solutions.
Results
- Enhanced awareness and understanding of the role of pulses in improving school meal nutrition and sustainability.
- Provided foodservice professionals with actionable tools, leading to increased consideration of pulses in school menus.
- Strengthened engagement with RDs and the media, reinforcing USA Pulses as a trusted source for pulse-related research and education.
- Supported ongoing advocacy for pulse inclusion in school meal programs by equipping decision-makers with science-backed data and practical applications.
By creating a digestible yet research-driven resource, the USA Pulses Educational Toolkit successfully positioned pulses as a key ingredient for healthier, more sustainable school meals, empowering nutrition professionals to integrate them into everyday menus.