User login

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

What is a California Thursdays Meal?

What is a California Thursdays Meal?

What is a California Thursdays Meal?

There are many ways to serve freshly-prepared meals using California-grown ingredients. Public school districts in our Network are leading the way and designing menus that meet these goals. Try our interactive tool and see how you do! You’ll need one ingredient from each food category to make a complete school meal.

Click on a food item below to learn more about it. Build your meal by clicking “Add to Plate”. When you have a complete meal, click “Calculate” to find out if you’ve created a California Thursdays® meal.

Interactive plate

X
10 POINTS
Add to plate
Brown rice
Processed
in California,
grown in Arkansas
X
5 POINTS
Add to plate
Tortilla
USDA whole
grain tortilla
X
25 POINTS
Add to plate
Corn bread
Baked
in-house with California cornmeal
X
0 POINTS
Add to plate
Hot dog bun
From an
out-of-state company
X
15 POINTS
Add to plate
Whole-grain roll
Made in
California with
California ingredients
X
10 POINTS
Add to plate
Applesauce
Made in
California from Washington apples
X
5 POINTS
Add to plate
Fresh banana
From Mexico
X
15 POINTS
Add to plate
Frozen berry blend
Made in California
from California fruit
X
25 POINTS
Add to plate
Fresh orange
From California
X
0 POINTS
Add to plate
Canned fruit cocktail
From an
out-of-state company
X
10 POINTS
Add to plate
Meatballs
Made in California
with beef from Iowa
X
0 POINTS
Add to plate
Hot dog
From an
out-of-state company
X
5 POINTS
Add to plate
Pork
USDA commodity pork
X
25 POINTS
Add to plate
Chicken leg
California-grown, antibiotic-free
chicken leg
X
15 POINTS
Add to plate
Chili
Ready-To-Eat
Made in California with California-grown beans
X
0 POINTS
Add to plate
Canned corn
From an
out-of-state company
X
15 POINTS
Add to plate
Canned salsa
Made in California from California-grown tomatoes
X
10 POINTS
Add to plate
Roasted edamame
Made in California
from Midwest soybeans
X
25 POINTS
Add to plate
Fresh carrot sticks
Fresh, California‑grown carrots
X
5 POINTS
Add to plate
Fresh jicama
From Mexico

California Thursdays is a collaboration between the Center for Ecoliteracy and a network of public school districts to serve healthy, freshly prepared, reimbursable school meals made from California-grown food. Serving fresh, healthy food supports student health and academic achievement. It helps kids learn where their food comes from. Buying locally creates jobs and boosts the economy. It is also good for the environment

About our scoring

A score of 70 or above matches the Center for Ecoliteracy's definition of a California Thursdays meal. School districts design menus based on their unique facilities, operations, and partnerships. Can you find the right combinations that make a California Thursdays meal?

  • 25 points: A food that is fresh, or freshly-prepared, and California-grown
  • 15 points: A food that ready-to-eat, made in California with California-grown ingredients
  • 10 points: A food that is made in California, with out-of-state ingredients
  • 5 points: A food that is fresh, but with no California origins
  • 0 points: A food that is processed with no California origins