By Mike Borges, President, State & Nutrition Solutions at LINQ
As 2025 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the conversations, challenges, and moments of quiet perseverance that defined this year in school nutrition. What stands out more than what school nutrition leaders faced is how they responded. Through uncertainty, constraint, and constant change, they led with professionalism, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to serve healthy meals to kids.
This was not an easy year. Food, labor, and supply costs remained high. Labor shortages made recruiting and retaining staff harder than ever, stretching teams thin and forcing leaders to do more with less. And yet, school nutrition teams showed up ready to serve students through it all. Most importantly, students were fed with dignity. That consistency, under pressure, is a powerful measure of success.
Showing Up Despite the Headwinds
What made 2025 especially challenging wasn’t just the number of obstacles. It was how quickly they evolved.
Even as budgets tightened and staffing gaps persisted, school nutrition teams adapted. They adjusted schedules, cross-trained staff, and reworked operations to keep service moving. They solved problems in real time because kids were counting on them. Their job is mission critical. This resilience doesn’t always make headlines, but it’s what keeps nutrition programs running every day.
Navigating the Growing Wave of Dietary Expectations
One of the most defining shifts this year has been the growing wave of dietary expectations from families and communities. With the added sugar and sodium roles decided by the USDA, now it’s parents and families asking questions about ingredients. They want healthier food for their children, and that demand is only increasing as states begin implementing new rules related to dyes, additives, and ultra processed foods.
School nutrition professionals are meeting this moment with honesty and leadership. They’re having tough conversations. They’re bringing facts to the table, and they’re listening to concerns. They’re explaining the realities of cost, supply chains, staffing, and USDA requirements. They do the important work to continue to deliver the most nutritious meals most students will eat in a day.
The reality is clear: it’s not as simple as switching to all-organic menus or moving entirely to scratch cooking. Those solutions aren’t feasible for most districts. But that hasn’t stopped nutrition teams from making progress. I’ve heard from nutrition directors who are actively testing new products, adjusting recipes, refining menus, and continuously improving what’s on the tray, one decision at a time.
What We Heard at ANC and Across the Field
I heard this clearly at the SNA Annual National Conference in July. Many conversations centered on meal reimbursement rates and the widening gap between costs and funding. We talked candidly about the implementation of added sugars and sodium limits, and how those requirements affect menu planning, procurement, recipes, and product availability.
These weren’t abstract policy debates. They were practical, grounded discussions led by professionals navigating real constraints in real cafeterias. Yes, there was frustration. Yes, there was concern. But I also witnessed genuine resolve.
That resolve was on full display as districts headed into the new school year. In August, LINQ customers came back to school ready—serving over 5 million meals per day throughout the back-to-school period. Behind that number are nutrition teams who faced challenges head on, used connected systems to remain flexible, and ensured students were fed from day one. We told some of their stories in this year’s 2025 K-12 Nutrition Year in Review. They show what’s possible when preparation, people, and the right tools come together.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we turn the page to 2026, the challenges won’t disappear. Costs will remain high. Regulations will continue to evolve. Expectations around nutrition, transparency, and access will keep rising. But so will the opportunities to modernize operations, reduce unnecessary burden on teams, simplify compliance with technology, and focus more time and energy where it matters most: serving students.
Earlier this year, I wrote about gratitude. As we close out 2025, this reflection is about recognition of leadership, resilience, and the daily resolve it takes to keep showing up for kids. If this year proved anything, it’s that school nutrition professionals are more than ready to meet what’s next.
Thank you for leading. Thank you for adapting. And thank you for feeding students every single day.