Monthly Pitch Ideas
January
Health & Wellness
Media Pitch Angle
- New year, healthier campus dining habits
- New menu options
Timely Hook
- Spring semester return
- New menu Items
National Popcorn Day (Jan 19)
February
Culture & Community
Media Pitch Angle
Celebrating cultural heritage through food
Timely Hook
- Winter comfort foods
- Black History Month
- 'Big Game' party food *
National Pizza Day (Feb 9), Valentine’s Day Treats (Feb 14)*, National Chili Day (Feb. 27)*
March
Sustainability
Media Pitch Angle
How campus dining reduces food waste
Timely Hook
- Pre–Earth Month coverage
- United Through Food Efforts
- Women’s History Month (female chef feature)*
National Cheesesteak Day (Mar 24)*
April
Earth Month
Media Pitch Angle
Students driving sustainable food choices
Earth Month + SFWD Local Media Toolkit
Timely Hook
- Earth Day (Apr 22)
National Ramen Day (April 4)*, National Grilled Cheese Day (April 12)*, National Pretzel Day (April 26)*
May
Cinco de Mayo (May 5): A cooking demo of traditional Mexican-inspired dishes; can pull CDI data on students who prioritize authentic regional cuisines like Mexican food.
National Herb Week (May 3-9): A farm-to-table demo on using fresh-cut herbs to enhance clean-ingredient meals. It emphasizes local sourcing at campuses and the student demand for minimally processed ingredients from the CDI.
Mother’s Day (May 10): A cooking demo featuring elevated, family-style brunch favorites such as seasonal quiches and artisanal grain bowls. Could highlight a female chef and her culinary journey, and, if she is a mother, tie it to the connection between homemade meals and campus dining innovations.
Finals "Brain-Boost" Fuel: A live demo featuring focus foods such as fruit-infused bowls or protein power bowls, utilizing CDI data to illustrate that students are progressively adopting clean eating habits. It can highlight nootropic-dense whole foods like walnuts and leafy greens, which help enhance memory retention and prevent the "study crash."
June
Summer Operations
Media Pitch Angle
How dining adapts for summer students & programs
Timely Hook
- Summer session
National Doughnut Day (first Friday)*
July
Local Impact
Media Pitch Angle
- July 4th: feeding a crowd for the holiday*
Timely Hook
- Local business coverage
National Ice Cream Day (July 19)*
August
Back to Campus
Media Pitch Angle
- How dining teams prepare for fall arrival
- New menu items
- New location openings
Timely Hook
- New academic year
Return of Pumpkin Spice*, National Guacamole Day (Sept 16)*, National Coffee Day (Sept 29)*
September
Back to Campus; Tailgating Favorites
Media Pitch Angle
- How dining teams prepare for fall arrival
- New menu items
- New location openings
- Chef Appreciation Week*
- Tailgating Favorites *
Timely Hook
- New academic year
Return of Pumpkin Spice*, National Guacamole Day (Sept 16)*, National Coffee Day (Sept 29)*
October
Food Innovation; Vegetarian Month; National Pizza Month
Media Pitch Angle
- Fall flavors & limited-time campus menus
Timely Hook
- Seasonal food trends
National Noodle Day (Oct. 6)*, National Dessert Day (Oct 14), National Taco Day (Oct. 16)*, Halloween treats (Oct 31)
November
Gratitude & Support; Vegan Month; Veteran’s Day (highlight a chef who is a veteran)*; Thanksgiving
Media Pitch Angle
- Supporting students facing food insecurity
- Giveback opportunities
Timely Hook
- Thanksgiving; Hunger Awareness
National Sandwich Day (Nov 3)*, National Nachos Day (Nov 6)*, National Pickle Day (Nov. 14)*, Tips for your Thanksgiving turkey*
December
Holidays
Media Pitch Angle
- Giveback opportunities
Timely Hook
- Cookie Decorating*
- Holiday cooking for a group*
National Brownie Day (Dec 8)*
