Training Toolbox
A Professional Development Directory for School Nutrition Professionals
Massachusetts offers a wealth of professional development (PD) opportunities to support the knowledge, skills and competencies of new, returning and aspiring school nutrition professionals. This one-stop online directory organizes Massachusetts PD options according to the school nutrition position and related competencies. Simply select the desired position to view and access the on-demand and live training options. The Training Toolbox Checklist is designed for school nutrition directors to easily plan and track staff professional development across the district.
Download the Checklist using the link(s) provided and check out the video tutorial below for additional details on how to use the tool.
Updated August 2026
*Please note, the MIC videos, referenced as on-demand training options in some of the categories listed below, are temporarily unavailable. The issue is being addressed. We apologize for the inconvenience.
School Nutrition Manager
New Hire On-Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to School Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Civil Rights in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Child Nutrition Program Meal Patterns
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: National School Lunch Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Components: Fruit
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Components: Fluid Milk
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Components: Vegetables
Annual and Ongoing On-Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Civil Rights in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Informal ProcurementÂ
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Procurement in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to the Buy American Provision
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to USDA Foods in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Resource Management
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: The Administrative Review Process
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: National School Lunch Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: USDA Foods 101 & Inventory Management
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: USDA Foods: Ordering Brown Box from the Warehouse
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: USDA Foods: Planning Entitlement for Processing and Diversion
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: USDA Foods: Planning Your Brown Box Entitlement
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: USDA Foods: Planning Your DoD Fresh Entitlement and FFAVORSÂ
Ongoing On-Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Afterschool and At-Risk Snack Program and Meal PatternÂ
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Guide to Operating the Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Program (FFVP)
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Local Wellness PoliciesÂ
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: The Menu Matrix Strategy
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Operating the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)Â
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New Hire and Annual On-Demand Options:
New Hire Live Training Option:
New Hire, Annual, and Ongoing Live Training Options:
New Hire On-Demand Option:
Ongoing Live Training Options:
- Workshops to Go: Back to Basics Culinary Series
- Workshop to Go: Sharpen Up with Knife Skills!
- Workshop to Go: Plant-Powered Plates: Creating Flavorful School Meals with Legumes, Tofu, Whole Grains and Vegetables
- Workshop to Go: Seasoned to Perfection: Homemade Spice Blends, Dressings and Sauces for School MenusÂ
- Add-On Equipment Training
- Taste Testing
- Live-Setting Culinary Training
Ongoing On-Demand Option:
New Hire and Annual On-Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Food Safety Â
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Safety: Time & Temperature ControlÂ
New Hire and Annual Live Training Options:
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New Hire and Annual On-Demand Option:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Communicating Meal Modifications to Families
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Food Allergies in Schools (English Version)
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Food Allergies in Schools (Spanish Version)
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Implementing a Meal Pattern Flexibility for Religious Reasons
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Meal Modifications in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Understanding Religious Dietary Needs
New Hire and Annual Live Training Options:
Ongoing Live Training Options:
- Workshop to Go: Gluten-Free at School (see options)
Ongoing Live Training Options:
Administrative Assistant, Chef, Cook & Kitchen Staff
New Hire On-Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Introduction to School Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Civil Rights in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Child Nutrition Program Meal PatternsÂ
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: National School Lunch Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Components: Fruit
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Components: Fluid Milk
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Components: Vegetables
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Annual and Ongoing On-Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to USDA Foods in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Procurement in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: USDA Foods 101 & Inventory Management
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: The Administrative Review Process
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Resource Management
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Civil Rights in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: National School Lunch Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern
Ongoing On-Demand Options:
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New Hire On-Demand Options:
Ongoing Live Training Options:
- Workshops to Go: Back to Basics Culinary Series
- Workshop to Go: Sharpen Up with Knife Skills!
- Workshop to Go: Plant-Powered Plates: Creating Flavorful School Meals with Legumes, Tofu, Whole Grains and Vegetables
- Workshop to Go: Seasoned to Perfection: Homemade Spice Blends, Dressings and Sauces for School MenusÂ
- Add-On Equipment Training
- Taste Testing
- Live-Setting Culinary Training
Ongoing On-Demand Option:
New Hire and Annual On-Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Food SafetyÂ
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Safety: Time & Temperature Control
New Hire and Annual Live Training Options:
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New Hire and Annual On-Demand Option:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Communicating Meal Modifications to Families
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Food Allergies in Schools (English Version)
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Food Allergies in Schools (Spanish Version)
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Implementing a Meal Pattern Flexibility for Religious Reasons
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Meal Modifications in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Understanding Religious Dietary Needs
New Hire and Annual Live Training Options:
Ongoing Live Training Options
- Workshop to Go: Gluten-Free at School (see options)
New Hire, Annual, and Ongoing Live Training Options:
Ongoing Live Training Options:
School Nutrition Cashier
New Hire On Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to School Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Civil Rights in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Child Nutrition Program Meal PatternsÂ
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: National School Lunch Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Components: Fruit
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Components: Fluid Milk
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Components: Vegetables
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Annual and Ongoing On-Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to USDA Foods in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Procurement in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: USDA Foods 101 & Inventory Management
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: The Administrative Review Process
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Resource Management
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Civil Rights in Child Nutrition Programs
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: National School Lunch Program Meal Pattern
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern
Ongoing On-Demand Options:
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New Hire, Annual, and Ongoing Live Training Options:
New Hire and Annual On-Demand Options:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Introduction to Food SafetyÂ
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition On Demand: Food Safety: Time & Temperature Control
New Hire and Annual Live Training Options:
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New Hire and Annual On-Demand Option:
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Food Allergies in Schools (English Version)
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Food Allergies in Schools (Spanish Version)
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Implementing a Meal Pattern Flexibility for Religious Reasons
- Nuts & Bolts of School Nutrition Programs On Demand: Understanding Religious Dietary Needs
New Hire and Annual Live Training Options:
Ongoing Live Training Option:
- Workshop to Go: Gluten-Free at School (see options)
Ongoing Live Training Options:
Additional Information
- New Hire Trainings: Suggested for onboarding new staff at the start of employment.
- Annual Trainings: Training topics suggested annually. NOTE: Civil Rights training is required annually.
- Ongoing Trainings: Available training options to further expand knowledge, skills, and competencies.
- Live Trainings: In-person or virtual workshops that can be scheduled with a live instructor. Typically, these are scheduled during professional development days.
- On-Demand Trainings: Training options that are available online for staff to complete on their schedule, at their own pace. Note: Please see the JSI website for group training options for on-demand trainings.
In 2022, JSI conducted a Think Tank with our Advisory Board, which included school nutrition directors from across the state, to determine the training needs for newly hired and retraining needs for school nutrition personnel. The Think Tank results were aligned with ICN Competency, Knowledge, and Skills for Managers and Staff and matched to the USDA Professional Standards.
The Massachusetts directory of PD options for managers, cooks/staff, and cashiers is organized according to the school nutrition position and related competencies needed to support the knowledge, skills and competencies of school nutrition professionals for onboarding new staff, as well as for a yearly refresher.
The downloadable Training Toolbox Checklist serves as a companion tool for School Nutrition Directors to:
- identify position-specific on-demand and live training options in the state,
- develop a position-specific or individualized training plan for employees,
- track completed training hours and ensure annual training requirements are met by each employee,
- track suggested learning codes for the USDA Key Areas for PD
The goal is to expand this resource and continuously improve and develop new training opportunities for Massachusetts school nutrition professionals. Please share your PD suggestions via email at johnstalker@framingham.edu.