April 30, 2012 – USDA has issued SP 30-2012: Grain Requirements for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, a new policy memo providing guidance on the whole-grain requirements under the new meal pattern, which will become effective on July 1, 2012. Among other details, the memo clarifies that USDA will allow SFAs and program operators to credit grain products based on the current 14.75 grams of grains per serving through SY 2012-2013. All grain products must be credited based on per oz eq standards beginning on July 1, 2013, the beginning of SY 2013-2014. The complete memo can be found at: http://origin.www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2012/SP30-2012os.pdf.
April 27, 2012 – A whole new horizon of opportunities is waiting to be explored at SNA’s 2012 Annual National Conference (ANC), July 15-18, 2012. Whether you’re a cook, a cafeteria manager, a nutrition education specialist, a purchasing coordinator, a district director or you wear all those hats—and many more—ANC offers you a diverse line-up of education sessions, inspiring general sessions and dynamic networking opportunities.
Photo: VisitDenver.com
To be part of the school nutrition event of the year, visit schoolnutrition.org/anc. But hurry—the Early Bird registration discount ends May 11th. After that date, all registrations received will be charged at the Regular Rate. To get the ultimate conference value for you and your team, register by May 11th and combine the early-bird discount with the savings SNA members receive when more than one person in the same membership category registers from their school district. To learn more about these special savings, click here.
Also, don’t forget that April 30th is the last day to enter the ANC 2012 sweepstakes. To emphasize this year’s “Explore New Horizons” theme, SNA is asking you to share a change or innovation that you think is on the horizon for the profession. What exciting change(s) are you going to make to your school nutrition program in the coming year? How are you going to implement such changes, and what do you think the impact will be on your students, staff and the overall program? Share your thoughts and be entered into a sweepstakes to win one of three free registration to Denver! Visit www.schoolnutrition.org/ancsweeps to enter. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
ANC is no ordinary conference… it’s a truly memorable gathering of the school nutrition community. To learn more about the conference, check out the new ANC promotional videos or stay tuned to www.schoolnutrition.org/anc. See you in the Mile High City!
ANC 2012
Register for ANC
ANC Sweepstakes
ANC Videos
April 20, 2012 – This summer’s Annual National Conference (ANC), taking place July 15-18, 2012, in Denver, is a four-day learning experience tailored to your needs. With 90 education sessions covering a wide array of topics on operations, administration, nutrition and communications and marketing, you easily can create a personal itinerary of sessions that are directly relevant to you and your job.
Plus, with seven planned pre-conference sessions on topics ranging from Food Safety Basics and the USDA Food Program to Financial Management and Conflict Management, you can arrive a few days and get even more out of your time at ANC. Depending on the courses you select, you’ll come away with valuable ‘take-home’ strategies such as keeping school food safe, safe handling techniques, maintaining profitable budgets, or learning about the best-practice strategies for a successful farm-to-school program. Not to mention, pre-conference sessions are a great way to earn Key Area Hours for initial certification for Levels 2 and 3, as well as a chance to earn even more Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to add on to the 25 hours earned for attending ANC.
In addition, ANC will also feature other opportunities to further target your training to your specific needs. For example, if you’re a chapter leader, Chapter Leadership Day is your opportunity to hear how you can develop programs and services that will enhance your chapter and allow you to attract and retain members. Topics essential to your success, such as volunteer development, growing membership and leading effective meetings will be presented by expert speakers. Breakout sessions and networking opportunities with chapter leaders from across the country will provide you with the opportunity for interaction, exchange of ideas and the chance to address challenges confronting you.
If you would like to participate in any of these training opportunities, be sure to indicate your intention to attend when registering for ANC. If you’re already registered for ANC, you can still add these opportunities to your registration by e-mailing or faxing SNA’s Meeting Center at (301) 686-3115.
To register for ANC, or to learn more about the targeted training opportunities that make ANC the school nutrition event of the year, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/anc.
ANC Education Sessions
Pre-Conference Sessions
April 16, 2012—The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) honored Lyman Graham as a 2012 Silver Plate Award winner in the elementary and secondary schools category. The prestigious Silver Plate Award recognizes achievements in foodservice management, marketing, human resources and industry and civic participation.
Graham is foodservice director for Dexter (N.M.) Consolidated Schools, Carlsbad (N.M.) Municipal Schools and Roswell (N.M.) Independent School District. He also was recently named SNA’s 2011 Outstanding Director of the Year.
Graham has served SNA on the national level as a member of the Nominating Committee (2009-11) and Public Policy & Legislation Committee (2006-present). In addition, he has organized and chaired the wellness committees of all three of his districts and served in every office and on every committee of the New Mexico School Nutrition Association.
For a complete list of 2012 Silver Plate Award winners, visit http://ifmaworld.com/docs/gp/2012spwinners.pdf.
2012 IFMA Silver Plate Award Recipients http://ifmaworld.com/docs/gp/2012spwinners.pdf
April 13, 2012 - Calling all school nutrition professionals! You know how much your students love your healthy, tasty cafeteria offerings. But how do they stack up against school meals served by your peers across the country? Enter Rachael Ray’s Yum-o! Healthy School Meals Contest to find out!
Presented by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Yum-o! and SNA, this competition is designed to spotlight creative meals from school nutritional professionals across the country. The Grand Prize winner will earn a trip to New York City for two, including airfare, hotel accommodations, tickets to the Rachael Ray Show and a meal stipend. The winner will also be featured in School Nutrition magazine and earn a free registration to ANC Kansas City in 2013.
The judges are searching for innovative, delicious, nutritious school lunches that appeal to students and can be easily replicated in school nutrition operations. Build your healthy tray, including a meat/meat alternate, bread/grain, vegetables and fruit. Visit www.healthiergeneration.org for the complete rules and requirements, but don’t delay; entries are due by June 15, 2012.
April 13, 2012 – A little bird recently delivered good news to SNA that it was recognized by Association Media & Publishing’s EXCEL Awards program with not one, but two prestigious awards. SNA’s flagship publication, School Nutrition, and the 2011 “Connect in Nashville” Annual National Conference (ANC) campaign were among the more than 1,000 entries submitted to the program this year—and both were honored with the highest award in their category, Gold!
School Nutrition received a Gold Award in the “Magazines: Feature Writing, circulation between 50,001-100,000” category for the June/July 2011 article, “The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship.” This article, written by School Nutrition editor Patricia Fitzgerald, provides simple steps for turning school nutrition critics into bona fide champions.
Likewise, SNA received a Gold Award in the “Promotional Publications: Convention Marketing Campaign” category for the ANC 2011 “Connect in Nashville” campaign, which included everything from the Program Preview and Program Guide pieces to the conference web presence, postcards, advertisements and more. These promotional materials helped to generate interest and enthusiasm for the event, which was held last July and had the second-highest ANC attendance in the Association’s history!
According to Association Media & Publishing, SNA’s submissions “displayed superior quality in design, writing and innovation.” To learn more about the EXCEL Awards program or to view the full list of winners, visit the Association Media & Publishing website.
April 12, 2012 – As SNA shared last week, there are a multitude of reasons why this summer’s 2012 Annual National Conference (ANC), July 15 to 18, is the place to be for professional development… but with a breathtakingly beautiful city at your disposal, you’re also encouraged to take time to discover some ‘Mile High’ fun while in town.
For starters, the Colorado Convention Center is one of the most walkable convention centers in the nation and it is located in the heart of downtown Denver. All seven of the official ANC hotels are a short walk to the Convention Center, and 300 restaurants are also within walking distance. Once inside the Convention Center, all ANC sessions and events are located in close proximity to one another, making it easy to get from one session to the next.
Photo: Colorado Convention Center
You could easily spend a month exploring Denver, but to help you hit the ground running, here is a guide to several of the city’s “must dos,” courtesy of VisitDenver.com:
Soak Up Some SunWith 300 days of sunshine annually (more annual hours of sun than San Diego or Miami Beach), Denver is the place to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. City Park, Denver’s own version of NYC’s Central Park, boasts 314 acres of outdoor fun, with panoramic views of the Denver skyline, and one of the most popular zoos in the country.
Head for the HillsNo other city has a backyard quite like Denver’s. Within an hour drive you can leave the high plains and enter the scenic and historic foothills of the Rocky Mountains. From a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, to a trip to check out all the attractions nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak, there are countless adventures to be found. For high-altitude tips, click here.
Hug the Blue BearThe 40-foot high Blue Bear (officially known as “I See What You Mean” by local artist Lawrence Argent) in front of the Colorado Convention Center is just one of many public art sculptures to be discovered around town.
16th Street MallThis mile-long pedestrian promenade in the heart of Downtown Denver is lined with 200 trees, 50,000 flowers, public art, 28 outdoor cafes and a wide array of shopping options. Free shuttles leave either end as often as every 90 seconds, making everything in downtown easy to reach.
Take a Thrill RideDenver’s Elitch Gardens is the only downtown theme park in America and is really two parks in one: on one side, there are 48 thrill rides, while the other side offers a complete water theme park with tubes, waterslides and wavepools. Of course, you can also get your thrills by braving the rapids with a trip to nearby Idaho Springs for a whitewater rafting adventure.
Borrow a BikeDenver’s B-cycle is the first large-scale bike sharing program in the nation. 500 shiny red bikes are available at more than 50 stations around town. Swipe a credit card for a $6 daily pass and hop on board. All rides under 30 minutes are free; rides of one hour are just a dollar. Denver has 850 miles of paved, off-street bike trails.
Join the Mile High ClubClimb to the 13th step of the Colorado State Capital and you are 5,280 feet above sea level—one mile high! Or, cheer on the Colorado Rockies baseball team at Coors Field from the row of purple seats—the best “mile high” seats in the city.
These are just a few of the many sightseeing adventures and things to do in Denver. There’s so much more to see and discover! What will your individual ‘Mile High City’ experience entail? That’s up to you! For more ideas, visit Denver’s Convention & Visitors Bureau website at www.visitdenver.com.
To register for ANC 2012, or to learn more about the superior education programming and events that make ANC the school nutrition event of the year, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/anc.
ANC 2012 Videos
Denver’s Convention & Visitors Bureau
50 Free Summer Activities in Denver
April 11, 2012—“Hunger Hits Home,” a documentary that takes a first-hand look at the crisis of childhood hunger in America through the eyes of the parents, children, anti-hunger activists, educators and politicians on the frontlines of the battle, will air on the Food Network on Saturday, April 14, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Central.
The film is part of an ongoing partnership between the Food Network and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.
For more information, visit http://foodnetwork.com/hungry.
“Hunger Hits Home”
School cafeterias across the country are serving up delicious and different menu items that are nutritious too.
Whether it's Spicy Stir Fry, Chicken Curry Salad, or Cuban Style Roast Pork, international recipes helps school districts to meet nutrition standards in a fun way. It also helps students to understand and appreciate different cultures.
To provide students a wider range of vegetables, Wayzata Public Schools in MN offers a Spicy Lemon Chicken Stir Fry dish full of veggies like broccoli, carrot strips, green beans, crisp water chestnuts, onions and julienned red bell pepper.
Highline School District, WA (featured in the video) below provides kids with fun, educational activities that match the cultures represented on the lunch menu to promote cultural awareness among students.
Interested in ethnic menu options? Check out the whole story and learn more about new ethnic school menus at: http://www.traytalk.org/ethnic-foods-spicing-up-school-menus/
Tray Talk is not Mealtalk!Do you know that Tray Talk and Mealtalk are different programs? Mealtalk is USDA's listserv and Tray Talk (www.traytalk.org) is SNA's website for parents to help them understand the facts about school meals and learn about school nutrition success stories from around the country.
Do you see it, just there in the distance? It’s coming closer and clearer into view. If you look closely enough, you will see it’s not your average conference or your ordinary learning experience. It’s SNA’s 2012 Annual National Conference (ANC) and a whole new horizon of opportunities waiting to be explored!
That’s right, ANC 2012 is starting to come into view and NOW is the time to register! This year’s conference will be held July 15-18, 2012, in the ‘Mile High City’ of Denver, where you will discover the sky is the limit! Whether you are new to school nutrition or at the height of your career, the school nutrition event of the year is your opportunity to achieve school nutrition excellence. To get excited now about all that’s possible at ANC, here are the top reasons you simply must be in Denver this July:
Why only nine reasons? What happened to the tenth? Well, the reasons for attending could go on and on… but now it’s your turn. What’s your top reason for attending ANC each year? Let us know in the comments below!
To maximize your conference value for you and your school nutrition team, register by May 11th and combine the early-bird registration fees with the savings SNA members receive when more than one person in the same membership category registers from their school district. To learn more about ANC 2012, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/anc.
April 3, 2012—With the arrival of spring comes the April issue of School Nutrition, SNA’s award-winning flagship publication, which is full of useful articles, such as previews of the themes for National School Lunch Week 2012 and National School Breakfast Week 2013, that are designed to aid school nutrition professionals in their daily tasks. Also not to be missed is an exclusive interview with television personality, author, cook and businesswoman Rachael Ray, who discusses her passion for helping schools to combat obesity, malnutrition and hunger.
In “Cooking Up Something Special for You and Your Students,” learn about Ray’s school nutrition-related collaborations—among them, her work with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and a recipe contest presented by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Ray’s Yum-o! organization and SNA—that are helping to make a difference in schools.
What new menu items and innovations has your operation recently introduced? Have you added a wider variety of fruits and vegetables to your lunch menu or purchased new equipment that allows you to offer more home-style options than ever before? Or, maybe you’re pleased to announce that one or more of your district’s schools earned recognition in the HealthierUS School Challenge. If one or more of the above applies to your operation—not to mention additional success stories you can share—the upcoming National School Lunch Week (NSLW) theme, “School Lunch: What’s Cooking?”, which will be celebrated October 15-19, 2012, is the perfect opportunity to share such achievements with your community, both at school and throughout your district. Bonus Web Content: While NSLW is a great time early in the school year to share positive messages about your school nutrition program, it’s still more important than ever to market the benefits of school meals and your operation’s achievements throughout the year. Explore a bevy of other great marketing and outreach best-practice suggestions.
During last October’s National School Lunch Week, the “Let’s Grow Healthy” theme gave school nutrition professionals the chance to help children understand the connections between agriculture, meals and health. Check out “Oh, the Places We Grow!” for a look at the creative, healthy fun that took place in cafeterias across the country. Bonus Web Content: If you can’t get enough inspiration for celebrating farm-to-school promotions, be sure to take a look at some additional 2011 celebration reports.
Teach your students how the morning meal can help them to shine during National School Breakfast Week 2013, which will be celebrated March 4-8. Don’t miss “Be a Star With School Breakfast” for the resources and promotion ideas connected with this exciting celebration so that you can start your planning early.
Speaking of the morning meal, many child health and education advocates see breakfast in the classroom as the answer to ensuring that all students receive the benefits of breakfast. Discover the success experienced by five school districts who established universal breakfast-in-the-classroom pilot programs through the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom initiative in “Good Mornings.”
Attendees of the 2012 Child Nutrition Industry Conference found just the directional assist they needed to navigate the many changes they face working in the K-12 school nutrition segment. “Seek and Ye Shall Find” explores conference highlights and memorable moments from the event.
Taste is important when it comes to serving school meals that students will want to eat, of course, but what about the other four senses? And what about a possible “sixth sense” that some of the school nutrition professionals interviewed identified? “Taste Rules—But Not Alone” offers tips on how to ensure that school menus and meals regularly engage all of the senses.
School Nutrition –April 2012