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Aramark Student Nutrition brings the heat with its LTO lineup for the 2025-26 school year Students will get to enjoy Spicy Chicken Street Corn Mac & Cheese, Fajita Chicken Flatbread, and more this upcoming school year.
A ramark Student Nutrition will once again offer a rotating selection of limit- ed time offers (LTOs) this school year. The special promotions were de- veloped by members of the food man- agement company’s Culinary Alli- ance and are created based around student feedback as well as what flavors Aramark chefs see trending. “It’s the student focus groups. It’s what’s out in the market, you know, looking at what’s at the popular quick service chain restaurants,” says Se- nior Executive Chef for Aramark Stu- dent Nutrition Laura McMann, add- ing that one trend the chefs noticed and incorporated into this year’s line- up was spicy foods and condiments. “Every commercial on TV pretty much has something hot and spicy,” she says. The LTOs are available at the mid- dle and high school level where stu- dents are particularly interested in sam- pling food with a kick, says McMann. So, the team developed a Gochujang Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich, a Spicy Chicken Street Corn Mac & Cheese and other items with spice to bring the heat that students are looking for. Focusing on spice also allows the chefs to keep in line with the School Nutrition Standards’ sodium and sugar restrictions, without sacrificing flavor. “Adding the level of spice is what brings the flavor to the ta - ble, so to speak, because we By Benita Gingerella
have to be mindful of the sugar and the salt, so what other better way to add flavor than with a little bit heat and using spices,” says McMann. Another ingredient making waves outside of school cafeterias is pick- les, so the team decided to work the ingredient into the queso that’s in- cluded in its Cheeseburger Nachos which will be featured in February. In addition, when coming up with ideas for what to feature, McMann tries to have a hook that will draw students in. For example, during October the featured LTO is a Smoked Sausage and Cheesy Potato Soup that comes with a giant soft pret- zel on the side. “What kid doesn’t gravitate toward a soft pretzel,” says McMann. The team also pays attention to what LTOs were popular the previ- ous year. After the popularity of last year’s Pizza Waffalaco, for example, students will get to try a Buffalo Bacon Cheddar Waffalaco in the spring.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARAMARK STUDENT NUTRITION
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