School Nutrition Weekly Newsletter
February 6, 2020
Updates and Reminders
Comment Period for Proposed Changes to the School Nutrition Programs
- USDA is now accepting comments on the proposed regulation changes for the school nutrition programs - Proposed Rules: Simplifying Meal Service and Monitoring Requirements in the NSLP and SBP.
- Proposed changes include:
- Flexibility in the vegetable subgroup requirements;
- Adjusting fruit servings at breakfast based on serving method;
- Extending the amount of time an entree is exempt through a la carte sales;
- And more!
- Sponsors are encouraged to comment on how they feel these changes and the others included in the federal register would affect their programs.
- The comment period closes on Monday, March 23.
- Click here to review the information in the Federal Register.
- Click here for a fact sheet about the proposed changes.
- Click here to comment on the proposed rules.
Food Service Employee Award
The nomination form for the Food Service Employee of the Year Award is now available!
Schools are encouraged to help IDOE recognize school food service employees who contribute significantly to the health and learning capabilities of students.
This award was created to recognize the outstanding achievements of school food service employees who excel in the areas of customer service, attitude, professionalism, and teamwork.
Click here to access the nomination form.
Nominations are due Friday, February 21.
Questions? Contact Suzette Hartmann at shartman@doe.in.gov.
Reminder About Adult Meal Sales
- Reminder! All sponsors must report their adult meal sales on their claims.
- Regardless of the method or how much adults pay for their meals, if a sponsor serves adult meals to teachers and/or other staff, these must be reported on the sponsor's monthly claim.
- Questions? Contact your field specialist.
National Nutrition Month
- The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates National Nutrition Month throughout March.
- The theme this year is Eat Right, Bite by Bite.
The campaign promotes that every little bit (or bite!) of nutrition is a step in the right direction.
Most importantly, Eat Right, Bite by Bite is fun, positive, kid-friendly, inclusive of and adaptable for all eating patterns and cultures, and accessible and easy to understand.
- Learn more and find resources here.
Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program
- Have you ever wondered what exactly Purdue Extension’s Nutrition Education Program (NEP) does?
- NEP's five focus areas are nutrition, physical activity, food security, food safety, and food resource management.
- They work with community partners on making healthy choices more accessible for SNAP-eligible individuals in limited resource communities.
- NEP does this through a mix of direct education and policy, system, and environmental (PSE) change.
- Currently, NEP is working with schools on projects ranging from exciting, in-class education that includes food demos and healthy snacks for the children, to school-wide wellness policies that create healthy environments for the whole school community.
- NEP can work with schools on learning/sharing gardens, breakfast after the bell, physical activity initiatives, food rescue, farm-to-school programs, and much more!
- Through school assessments and feedback, NEP will help pinpoint areas for improvement and work with you to make your dreams for your schools a reality.
- The Nutrition Education Program currently exists in counties all across the state of Indiana, and all services are completely free!
- Questions? Contact your local Purdue Extension office to find out more. You can find who your local contact is here.
- You can also visit eatgathergo.org for free recipes, videos, and more!
Upcoming Trainings
Save the Date! ISNA Spring Regional Workshops
- ISNA Regional Workshops will be here before you know it!
- The theme this year is Focus on the Customer.
- These workshops will be from 3:30 - 7:00 p.m. in various locations across the state.
- Lessons covered during this year's workshops include:
- Building a Customer-Focused School Nutrition Program
- Knowing the Customer
- Customer Service is Key
- Responsibility for Customer Service
- Rate Your Customer Service
- Achieve Customer Satisfaction
- Registration will be available soon.
- Click here for more information.
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If you have any questions or concerns regarding this newsletter, please contact Allie Caito-Sipe at acaito@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0849, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20849, or contact Ashley Heller at aheller@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0544, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20544.
Miss a Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter? Click here to access previous newsletters!
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Website: https://www.doe.in.gov/nutrition
Phone: (317) 232-0850
Twitter: @EducateIN