Hello all,

We are happy to announce that we have added some very talented individuals to our Child Nutrition Program staff. We plan to add even more personel as we move forward into the Spring months. Human captial is a vital part of executing our program. We rely heavily on our staff's experience and knowledge of executing school meals and buidling relationships with our students. We greatly appreaciate all that they do.

- H. Ward

“““We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ―Aristotle

Huntsville Alabama – March 6 through March 10, 2023 – To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast, Huntsville City Schools will celebrate National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) during March 6-10, 2023. The NSBW campaign theme, “DIG IN to School Breakfast,” reminds the entire school community that healthy breakfast options available at school provide an energizing start to the day for students.

U.S. Department of Agriculture data show that more and more students are starting their day with a nutritious breakfast in their school cafeterias. The School Breakfast Program serves more than 14 million students every day.

Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for many families to find time for a healthy breakfast. Fortunately, Huntsville City Schools offer nutritious school breakfasts, complete with fruit and low-fat or fat-free milk, to ensure students are fueled for learning every school day. School breakfast is being served to students through the serving lines in lunchrooms and or via Child Nutrition Program +-staff delivery to the classrooms.

Studies show that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to:

• Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math

• Score higher on standardized tests

• Have better concentration and memory

• Be more alert

• Maintain a healthy weight

School nutrition professionals and students will be encouraged to show their enthusiasm for school breakfast from March 6-10 as the district celebrates NSBW with special menus, activities, and more. Child Nutrition Program staff and students will be encouraged to dress as construction professionals during the week, students can draw a famous building and post the artwork in the serving areas of the lunchrooms, we will also highlight the importance of school breakfast, and students will engage in completing themed activity sheets, and encourage children to try breakfast options that they have not had before.

“A healthy breakfast at the start of the day is a great way to ensure students are nourished and ready to learn,” said Henry Ward, Huntsville City Schools Child Nutrition Program Director “National School Breakfast Week helps us educate parents and students about all the nutritious and delicious choices we offer.”

At Huntsville City Schools, attaining a breakfast meal before class is a great way to start the day. Meal options include whole fresh fruits such as apples, oranges, or bananas, cereals with whole grains and low sugars, hot breakfast entrees, and no-fat milk.

The “DIG IN to School Breakfast” campaign is made possible by the School Nutrition Association and Kellogg’s®.

Parents and students can follow the fun on Facebook.com/TrayTalk using the hashtag #NSBW23.

For more information about school meals, visit https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/district/child-nutrition-program or www.schoolnutrition.org/SchoolMeals.

About National School Breakfast Week

National School Breakfast Week was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program, a federally assisted meal program operating in public and non-profit private schools and residential childcare institutions since 1975.

The Huntsville City Schools Child Nutrition Program is proud to announce that starting on Monday February 27, 2023, Domino’s Smart Slice Pizza is going to be served in the lunchroom during lunch every two weeks in all schools inclduing Elementary and Middle Schools. Domino’s Smart Slice pizza contains unique ingredients that are available exclusively for schools. Each pizza is made by hand and delivered hot from the local Domino’s store. Domino’s Smart Slice meets all USDA guidelines, and will help give your kids the energy to learn, play and grow!

Domino’s Smart Slice pizzas are:

• Whole Grain Rich
• Reduced Sodium
• Reduced Fat
• Made Fresh
• Taste GREAT!

Charcuterie Kid’s Boxes are now available for lunch at Huntsville City Schools. Each box may contain a multitude of nutritional items for young people such as slice deli meats, cheeses, fruits, raw vegetables, Hummus, or crackers.

Charcuterie is a French term that refers to prepared meats, such as sausage, ham, bacon, and pâté. So-called charcuterie boards have become popular as appetizers or party snacks in the United States in recent years. Strictly speaking, these should contain only French meat products, but the term has broadened to include, in addition to assorted meats, a variety of cheeses, nuts, fruits, vegetables, breads, crackers, and even sauces. Charcuterie derives from the French phrase chair cuit, meaning “cooked meat.” It was originally confined to pork, for medieval guild regulations required charcuteries to sell only pork and pork fat. The term referred originally not to the meat itself but to the shops where it was sold, the venue of the charcutier, who prepared, cooked, and preserved cuts of pork and, on occasion, other foods, as during Lent when the observant ate cured fish rather than meat.

Ala. school nutrition pros concerned over USDA rules

Some school nutrition professionals in Alabama say they are concerned about a USDA proposal that would place further limitations on school meals, including on sugar and sodium. Emma Anne Hallman, president-elect of the Alabama School Nutrition Association, said school nutrition professionals already are having difficulty finding foods that comply with current standards.

Full Story: WVTM-TV (Birmingham, Ala.) (2/9)

Study: Student BMI fell under federal school meal law

There was a small but significant decline in average body mass index among students when changes were made to school meal standards under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, according to a study published Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. The study also found a slight decline in children who were overweight or obese.

Full Story: MedPage Today (free registration) (2/13), CNN (2/13), The Associated Press

Medicaid funds can now to be used for food programs

The Biden administration has started approving requests to use state Medicaid funds to pay for diet counseling, groceries and other efforts to address food insecurity as policymakers explore the benefits of "food as medicine" programs in improving overall health and reducing costs. Supporters say that using Medicaid funds for food programs will enhance Americans' overall health and result in fewer medical visits, better nutritional habits and less pressure on the country's health care system.

Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (2/12), National Review (2/13)