Ten Tips for Taste Testing

Food companies have handed out bite-sized samples in supermarkets for decades. This type of sampling, often called taste testing, is a sure-fire marketing strategy to introduce customers to new products, create a positive buzz in the store, and ultimately, increase sales.

In the school cafeteria, taste testing is a terrific way to educate students about food and nutrition. It is the epitome of experiential learning. In addition, taste testing a few similar foods at once can pinpoint student preferences prior to full menu roll-out.

Consider these 10 tips for taste testing to educate students and inform menu decisions:

1. Offer samples that will (or may be) offered at lunch; skip foods that will never see the light of day on your serving line.

2. Offer sample sizes that can be eaten in one bite. Samples that are too large may be intimidating and costly.

3. Serve samples in a disposable cup, on a paper napkin, or atop an edible platform (pita bread, tortilla chip) to make clean up easy.

4. Set up the taste test in a visible area that does not disrupt traffic flow.

5. Consider a contest between two, three, or more similar food items.

6. Advertise the activity in the serving line, in the school newsletter, or on the menu.

7. Offer only one taste per student, but ask students who want extra samples to bring a friend to the sampling table.

8. Ask students for their feedback and document their responses.

9. Offer an incentive or take-home message that will stay with them. SchoolFoodserviceXpress.com has a wide variety of products, including "I Tried It" Stickers, to offer brave testers.

10. Introduce the favorite sampled foods with great fanfare within one month of the sampling date.