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Does hearing the phrase USDA Food Buying Guide make you anxious or relieved? We know it can seem intimidating if you haven’t used it before. However, the value it packs is amazing.
Our team has dug in deep into the Food Buying Guide to learn how to navigate it and use it to support our meal programs. We love teaching school nutrition professionals how to use this valuable tool.
Here's How to Get Started
- Go to the USDA Food Buying Guide homepage HERE.
- Create Your Login: Begin by creating a login on the USDA Food Buying Guide website. This will grant you access to all the essential tools.
- Locate the FBG Calculator: Once logged in, navigate to the tools section, and find the FBG Calculator – Create Shopping List.
- Select Your Food Items: Identify the food items you need for your menu. The guide offers a comprehensive list of options.
- Determine Serving Sizes and Quantities: Select the desired serving size for each food item and input the number of servings required.
- Generate Your Shopping List: After entering your details, click save. The Food Buying Guide will generate a shopping list that includes the total pounds, cans, or packages needed for each item.
Why Use the Food Buying Guide?
A streamlined process that simplifies procurement and ensures accurate quantities, minimizing waste and optimizing resources.
If you haven’t started using the Food Buying Guide, give it a try this year.
Also, encourage new directors to leverage this tool so they will feel confident to make informed decisions and efficiently manage their programs.
As we approach the busy procurement season, let’s support our colleagues by sharing this knowledge and demonstrating the benefits of the USDA Food Buying Guide. Together, we can transform a daunting task into a manageable and even enjoyable aspect of our work.
