October 29, 2009 - Flu season is getting an early start, as many schools have begun reported closures in an effort to prevent the spread of the highly contagious H1N1 flu. On Thursday, October 29, the Associated Press reported that more than 350 schools were closed the previous week alone due to high numbers of absent students with flu-like symptoms. To date, more than 600 schools have closed to prevent the spread of illness.
When schools close, students who rely on the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program may struggle to access healthy and balanced meals. In August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released guidance and a waiver application regarding a provision in the National School Lunch Act that allows the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option to operate so that school districts can serve children who are not in school due to unanticipated school closures. School nutrition operations nationwide are working hard to ensure that their programs can continue to serve children should their schools close in response to an H1N1 influenza outbreak.
Earlier in the fall, SNA’s School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) partnered with USDA to present a webinar detailing specific requirements for submitting waivers and reviewing emergency preparedness recommendations.
Click on the link below to access resources and tools from the USDA and other government agencies that are designed to guide school nutrition programs facing an H1N1 flu outbreak. This website will be updated as new information becomes available.
To access a transcript of the SNF Special Webinar, “Providing Meals to Needy Children During an H1N1-Related School Dismissal,” visit www.schoolnutrition.org/h1n1webinar.
H1N1 (Swine) Flu Resources
October 29, 2009 -- The clock’s ticking on your opportunity to win a $10,000 grant to support increased access to and consumption of fresh produce during school meals in your elementary school. The Love Your Veggies™ grant program, sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings in partnership with School Nutrition Foundation (SNF), is now in its fourth year. The grant deadline is November 6. For complete information, visit www.LoveYourVeggies.com
With today’s tight budgets, any extra funds to help increase fresh produce in schools are welcome. With only 10 grants nationwide, how do you make your application stand out? It is important to develop a complete and concise plan that meets the key priorities of the program
www.LoveYourVeggies.com
October 28, 2009--Individual perceptions of the current state of school meals may vary, but there is a common goal that is shared among all voices in the school nutrition debate, and it’s one that mirrors the vision of the School Nutrition Association (SNA): “Healthful meals and nutrition education are available to all children.”
School nutrition professionals. Parents. Health advocates. Teachers. Government decision-makers. Farmers. Nutritionists. School administrators. We all agree that school meals should be nutritious—to help children grow; to allow them to achieve in school and life; to assist them in adopting positive, lifelong dietary habits; and to maintain healthy weights. We also recognize that, if children are going to benefit from nutritious school meals, school foods must be appealing—in taste and appearance—in order to entice students to actually consume them.
But it is in identifying the strategies, tactics and priorities for realizing that shared goal that our voices can digress and divide. Nonetheless, overall success ultimately will hinge on all stakeholders leveraging their disparate positions and powers together in the development of a united front.
This is a key reason why the Steering Committee for SNA’s 2010 Child Nutrition Industry Conference (CNIC) is pleased to announce that Chef Ann Cooper has accepted an invitation to participate in this year’s meeting as a speaker and a panelist.
While Cooper, who has positioned herself as a “Renegade Lunch Lady,” has been a polarizing figure in public discourse about school meals, SNA leadership is enthusiastic about this unique opportunity to establish a dialogue about differing perspectives for reaching shared goals and to plant the seeds for future partnerships.
Cooper will speak about the “Lunch Box: Healthy Tools to Help All Schools” initiative she developed with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. She also will participate on a panel with other school nutrition directors who have developed and implemented progressive changes. The session, moderated by Patricia Fitzgerald, editor of SNA’s flagship magazine, School Nutrition, will include a question-answer opportunity with attendees.
The significance of the invitation by SNA to Cooper—and her acceptance—already has drawn the attention of SNA’s members, as well as that of the vast school nutrition stakeholder community, as evidenced by an August article in The New York Times, in which the pairing is described as “stars aligning.” The article went further to describe Cooper and the SNA community as “once warring camps,” that have now come together for the greater good.
See the Related Links to read The New York Times article, learn more details about this year’s CNIC meeting or post a comment in the new CNIC 2010 Blog.
The New York Times: “Stars Align” article
CNIC 2010 RegistrationCNIC 2010 Blog
Want to land on the green by saving some green and keeping your school nutrition operation or business out of the red? Need someone to help you out of the sand trap and work with you to build profitable partnerships? Are you interested in avoiding bogeys and making par by benchmarking the operational efficiency of your program?
Well then, you won’t miss this opportunity to drive, chip and putt your way to school nutrition excellence! SNA’s 2010 Child Nutrition Industry Conference (CNIC) is all about providing you with the fresh ideas that will make your operation more productive and profitable than ever before. You will discover resources you never knew you had and get tips for streamlining business practices, increasing efficiency and stretching your budget—and that translates to big improvements on your bottom line.
Need more reasons to make your way to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., this January? Check out the brand-new CNIC Blog, where you will find news, updates, information and plenty of reasons why you can’t afford to miss out. One of the best things about this blog is that the discussion can get started before the meeting even begins! So be sure to drop in, add your comments and return frequently to see new posts and make new comments.
Ready to register right now? Visit the dedicated CNIC section of SchoolNutrition.org, where you can take care of both your conference registration and hotel reservation. But hurry, the Early Bird deadline is drawing near—November 6th!
CNIC Blog
CNIC 2010
Register for CNIC
October 22, 2009—The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, announces a call for proposals. The project is a national initiative designed to promote the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) as a decision-making tool for policymakers. The group’s call for proposals is rolling, and grants will range from between $25,000 and $150,000 each. Grantees will receive training, mentoring and technical assistance from the Health Impact Project and leading HIA experts. For more information and to apply online, visit www.healthimpactproject.org.
www.healthimpactproject.org
October 21, 2009— The National Dairy Council, in conjunction with the School Nutrition Association and the School Nutrition Foundation, conducted a survey to understand the awareness of the concept of “nutrient rich” as well as measure attitudes toward this concept. The information gained from this study is a first step in helping the School Nutrition Association and School Nutrition Foundation explore these concepts within the context of school nutrition programs.
Respondents were also asked to rated their level of agreement with a series of statements related to the concept of “nutrient rich”. Click here to read the full survey report. (pdf)
The School Nutrition Association is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The Association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals. Founded in 1946, SNA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children’s health and well being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
Learn more about the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition at www.nutrientrichfoods.org/index.html
October 21, 2009—Diane Zipay, director of nutrition services for Westside (Omaha, Neb.) Community Schools, is passionate about her vegetables. So it’s only fitting that she was awarded a 2008 Love Your Veggies™ grant, made possible by the makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings. With support from SNA’s School Nutrition Foundation, the grant program helps schools fund fresh produce education initiatives in the lunchroom and in the classroom. The deadline to apply for 2009-10 grant awards is coming up fast: November 6, 2009.
Introducing students to vegetables requires creativity and initiative on Zipay’s part. She uses the grant money to fund a number of different produce-related promotions and activities. Among these is a commitment to offer a fresh fruit and vegetable on the menu at the district’s Hillside Elementary every school day, as well as showcasing a special “vegetable of the month.” A priority is made to “highlight unusual vegetables, like butternut squash, purple cauliflower or jicama,” she explains.
To extend the promotion even after the end of the grant period, Zipay has developed a relationship with a local produce grower, working to identify special produce items that are unusual—but still affordable. “The arrangement allows me to provide products to students that I might not be able to afford on my own, such as red peppers, Brussels sprouts and blood oranges,” Zipay notes. The grower is also able to provide some items—like strawberries—at times when her operation is unable to obtain them through other suppliers.
She also hopes to expand produce promotion to other schools. She has established a “crudité cart.” Crudités are traditional French appetizers, comprising sliced or raw vegetables with a dipping sauce. Zipay is working to arrange for the cart to travel to a different school each week so that students throughout the district have a chance to try foods that may be new to them.
An unexpected effect of Zipay’s initiative was that Hillside Elementary students began to pass the word that “it was cool to try the new and different vegetables,” she reports. “For kids who don’t eat the vegetables, they experience some peer pressure from some of their fellow students.”
Even students not directly involved in the school’s produce promotion benefit from efforts to build awareness. “We bring the leftover exotic vegetables from our school to the kids at the Boys and Girls Club, and they can experiment with them. They love to eat our food,” Zipay reports.
At press time, Zipay was busy planning activities for the current school year. Among them, a middle school in the district will produce a cookbook featuring ideas for creative ways to prepare vegetables. “The kids and our nutrition director will write it, and it will be put together by a club from our community and sold for a fundraiser,” she details. Also on the schedule in the Westside district is a vegetable carving competition, in which high school culinary arts students are paired with adult mentors.
In addition, as part of the district’s Eat Smart, Be Smart program, participating fifth- and sixth-grade students spend two days at the district’s central office learning to analyze the district’s school menus for creativity and variety in food options and color, then devise their own menus. The menu items they select are served at a Kiwanis or other local community group meeting, where the students give a presentation on the steps for developing and preparing the meal. The Eat Smart, Be Smart program has received positive feedback from local community groups and was featured on a local television news channel in Omaha, Zipay reports.
Are you inspired by Zipay’s innovative and successful ideas? Ready to launch or expand produce-related initiatives in your own school nutrition operation? There’s still time to apply for one of 10 $10,000 Love Your Veggie grant awards. Applications can be submitted through November 6, 2009. Visit www.loveyourveggies.com for more information.
Love Your Veggies Grants Announced
Loveyourveggies.com
October 16, 2009 - This year’s National School Lunch Week was an All-Star Success! This year’s theme, “All-Star School Lunch,” encouraged students learn about the importance of eating healthy school meals and physical activity. School districts across the country celebrated the week with special NBA-inspired menus and invited parents, local celebrities, and area sports heroes to enjoy balanced and nutritious school lunches with students. Take a look at some of the activities around the country.
How did you celebrate National School Lunch Week? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.
October 16, 2009 -- This webinar will feature experts from school nutrition operations as well as the Afterschool Alliance. The webinar will focus on meeting the needs of students for energy and nourishment as they extend their school day through USDA’s available afterschool snack programs. Participants will leave the experience ready to streamline food and labor costs and identify solutions to common operational challenges. Expert speakers will share ideas and best practices on partnering with both schools and community organizations on afterschool snacks. The webinar will also include key trends identified by SNA surrounding afterschool snacks as well as an overview of legislative and regulatory priorities surrounding the afterschool environment.
For complete information, including registration, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/afterschool
www.schoolnutrition.org/webinars
www.schoolnutrition.org/snf
October 15, 2009 -- Don’t miss your chance to have your voice heard! The “polls” for the 2010-12 School Nutrition Association (SNA) Election will be open from October 15 to November 15, 2009. To cast your vote, go to https://www.esc-vote.com/sna2009, or log on to the SNA website at www.schoolnutrition.org/snaelection to review the biographies of this year’s candidates.The election features 28 candidates from around the country who share a common interest: a passion for child nutrition. It is critical that you take advantage of this annual voting process. By casting your vote, you are helping to select the leaders that will take the Association into the future, helping to further the cause of child nutrition programs. This responsibility is significant to the Association and to the overall future of school nutrition programs nationwide.How to Vote It is imperative when voting online that you have your membership number available; this is located on your SNA membership card or on the label of your School Nutrition (SN) magazine. If you are a valid SNA member as of May 31, 2009, you are encouraged to vote for the positions of vice president, secretary/treasurer and committee chairs, as well as other positions based on your membership type and geographic region. You will NOT be eligible to vote if you became a member or reinstated your membership after May 31, 2009. Members in the Other or Affiliate membership category also are not eligible to vote.To cast you vote, go to: https://www.esc-vote.com/sna2009. Prompts will guide you through the online voting process, but to save time, please make your selections in advance by using the printable Candidate Reference Guide, available at www.schoolnutrition.org/snaelection. Please do not underestimate the importance of your vote!The newly elected officers and Nominating Committee representatives will be announced in late November and officers will be installed in July 2010 at SNA’s Annual National Conference in Dallas. For questions about the 2010-12 SNA Election, please contact SNA at (800) 877-8822.
SNA Election
Printable SNA Election Bio (pdf)
Printable Candidate Reference Guide (pdf)
SN Vice President Candidate interviews (pdf)
October 14, 2009 -- Could your program use 10 new pieces of equipment? Winston Industries and the School Nutrition Foundation are looking for you!
Equipment received from this award will consist of 10 pieces of equipment from Winston Industries which may include items such as holding cabinets, holding drawers, steamers, cook and holds, therm and holds. For more information on what equipment pieces are available, please visit: http://www.winstonind.com/schools/index.aspx#app
The pieces are representative of the equipment available for the program. Winston Industries will work closely with the Equipment Award Grant winner to determine its needs to select equipment and arrange delivery of the equipment to the district.
The deadline for applications is Friday, October 23. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your school nutrition operation. For more information and the on-line application link, visit http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Content.aspx?id=12968.
School Nutrition Foundation
October 13, 2009 - The United States Senate voted on Thursday, October 8, 2009 to approve the agriculture appropriations conference bill by a vote of 76-22. The legislation passed the House of Representatives earlier in the week. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the measure soon.
Under this bill, the current Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act is extended for one year. The legislation also allocates $25 million in funds for equipment assistance grants for school nutrition programs. School nutrition programs that did not originally receive grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are eligible to apply. SNA will post information on these grants once it becomes available.
Keep up on the latest news through SNA’s exclusive Reauthorization blog, From the Kitchen to the Congress.
October 13, 2009 -- Hurry, the Early Bird registration deadline for the 2010 Child Nutrition Industry Conference (CNIC) is drawing near—November 6th. Register now and save!
This year, the School Nutrition Association’s annual meeting of operators and industry representatives will be held at the Sawgrass Marriott, located in the charming seaside village of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. At CNIC 2010, you will discover resources you never knew you had and get tips for streamlining business practices, increasing efficiency and stretching your budget—all of which translates to big improvements for your bottom line.
Here are just a few more reasons why you can’t afford to miss CNIC:
With so much information available, you're guaranteed a solid return on investment for the time you spend at CNIC. Don’t miss out on one of the year’s best learning, sharing and networking events! Register by November 6th to take advantage of CNIC’s Early Bird registration rate!
October 13, 2009 - The Grains for Health Foundation is sponsoring a workshop on Wednesday, November 11, 5:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. and Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:00 am-4:30 p.m. The workshop will consist of school foodservice directors and personnel, food industry product developers and distributors, and experts from farm-to-school programs. This a great opportunity to listen to and share ideas about current topics including, how schools buy foods to improve efficiency, the use of whole-grain and nutrient-dense foods, and new product development. Conference participants will also have the opportunity to offer input to influence the Grains for Health Foundation’s work in improving child health. Additionally, there will be a hands-on session aimed at examining product and recipe development for school foodservice.
For additional information on the workshop and to register, please visit the link below.
School Nutrition - Understanding our Food Chain to Help Improve Child Health
October 12, 2009 - School nutrition programs are encouraging students to get in the game and enjoy healthy school lunches during this year’s National School Lunch Week. Through out the week, schools are celebrating with an “all-star” line up of nutritious, balanced school lunches. This year’s theme, All-Star School Lunch, encourages students to learn about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.
The NBA-inspired theme features five “basketball teams” each comprised of healthy school lunch menu items and “coached” by a current or former NBA/WNBA player. Across the country, SNA members will be featuring the following “teams” on their menus:
Through out the week, students will have the opportunity to draft and name their very own All-Star Team, while explaining why their school lunch makes them a champion. Students select a participating NBA/WNBA player to coach their team and explain why their All-Star lunch is healthy. Schools will select their top three student All-Stars to compete in the national cafeteria contest, which awards the winning four students with a NBA prize pack. Special thanks goes to the Milk Processors Education Program (MilkPEP) for their generous support.
On Monday, October 12, 2009, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation declaring this week National School Lunch Week. In the proclamation, he noted that the school nutrition programs play a vital role in ensuring that all children receive balanced and nutritious school meals everyday. He also honored the women and men who operate the programs and work to continue their success.
To learn more about this week’s celebrations, please visit the links below.
www.allstarschoollunch.org
White House Proclamation on National School Lunch Week
October 12, 2009 -- The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) in partnership with the National Dairy Council (NDC) will be offering a special webinar on Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 2:30-3:45 EDT, Make Your Way to Excellence and Become a District of Excellence. This is not being offered on Wednesday as a “Wednesday Webinar”. For complete information, including registration, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/excellence. You do not want to miss this opportunity to find out why you want to be a District of Excellence! Join SNA President and SNF Board Member, Dora Rivas to learn how the Keys to Excellence Best Practice Standards and the District of Excellence program can help you benchmark your program and elevate its public image in your community. Melanie Konarik will discuss how Spring ISD’s recognition in 2008 as a District of Excellence and District of the Year boosted the professional image of school nutrition staff and services among district administration and staff as well as the community at large. SNF will also share practical tips for submitting a successful District of Excellence application and increasing your chances of being named the 2010 District of the Year. The Keys to Excellence program has been the foundation of SNA’s certification program and SNF’s professional development efforts for over 15 years.
On this webinar, you will learn how to:
The webinar will also feature:
For complete information on Keys to Excellence, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/keys.
The 2009-2010 District of Excellence deadlines are November 30, 2009 and March 31, 2010.
October 9, 2009 -- The Call for Proposals has been extended until October 16, 2009 for SNA's Annual National Conference July 11-14, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. For more information or to submit your proposal for a 1-hour concurrent educational session visit the ANC Dallas Call for Proposal Page.
http://www.schoolnutrition.org/formANC.aspx?id=12614.
ANC is the premier education event of the year for the school nutrition industry. This is your chance to showcase your areas of expertise and/or your operation’s best practices to inspire other attendees to make positive changes in their programs.
Proposals will be selected this fall based on the programming priorities of the SNA ANC Steering Committee. Notification for all proposals will be sent via email in January 2010. Please review all speaker policies and instructions prior to submission. Only complete proposals will be considered.
ANC Dallas Call for Proposals
October 6, 2009 -- The clock’s ticking on your opportunity to win a $10,000 grant to support increased access to and consumption of fresh produce during school meals in your elementary school. The Love Your Veggies™ grant program, sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings in partnership with School Nutrition Foundation (SNF), is now in its fourth year. The grant deadline is November 6. For complete information, visit www.LoveYourVeggies.com
With today’s tight budgets, any extra funds to help increase fresh produce in schools are welcome. With only 10 grants nationwide, how do you make your application stand out? It is important to develop a complete and concise plan that meets the key priorities of the program.
School Nutrition Foundation www.schoolnutrition.org/snf Love Your Veggies www.LoveYourVeggies.com
October 5, 2009 -- As part of the Summit Awards, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) created a special video about the School Nutrition Association and the Vote for School Lunch 2008 – Presidential Edition campaign. The video was shown during the Awards Dinner to over 900 association executives and features SNA’s Executive Director, Barbara Belmont.
The short video not only highlights the Vote for School Lunch campaign, but the key issues facing school nutrition programs today.
View the video below:
October 2, 2009—The work of a school nutrition professional is about more than serving food to children; it’s also about marketing your program, both within your own operation and throughout your district. The October issue of School Nutrition, SNA’s award-winning flagship publication, presents tips for how to spotlight your program and reach kids in new and appealing ways. Perhaps these tips will inspire you to come up with some fresh marketing messages and menu options of your own!
“Mastering The Message” takes a look at some successful examples that companies have used to showcase their products and services, as well as walks you through how you might work to craft and market messages in your own operation.
When you think of trends that are on the rise in the commercial foodservice segment, which would you identify as having crossover appeal to the school segment? “The Next BIG Thing” reveals these popular elements your school nutrition operation may already be incorporating or may want to think about adding.
You’ve probably seen or heard about the power that video can have in today’s world, whether it relates to stories in the news or the efforts of other businesses. Make video work for you by taking a look at “Smile for the Camera” to get an understanding of the production process and the resources and technology that may be available to your operation.
School Nutrition – October 2009