nutmegger - School Nutrition Association of Connecticut
Transcription
nutmegger - School Nutrition Association of Connecticut
THE NUTMEGGER S C H O O L N U T R I T I O N A S S O C I AT I O N O F C O N N E C T I C U T W I N T E R 2 0 15 VISION DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT EXCITES, ENGAGES AND EXCELS IN YOUR NUTRITION PROGRAM? NOMINATE THEM TODAY! Do you know someone that deserves to be recognized in school nutrition? The SNA Awards program has recently been revamped, and is a GREAT opportunity to highlight the outstanding and important work of your peers! There is a SNA Award for every member type: SNACT members are eligible for many awards and honors that recognize their achievements in school foodservice, leadership, membership recruitment and professional development. Each year SNA awards are presented to its outstanding members and state association leaders at the Annual National Conference (ANC) during the State Awards Ceremony and General Sessions. Additional awards include: • Employee of the Year • Manager of the Year, in honor of Louise Sublette • Director of the Year • SNACT’s Rising Star Award • President’s Award of Achievement, in honor of Thelma Flanagan • President’s Award of Excellence • Membership Awards Well-nourished minds and bodies for Connecticut children to ensure lifelong health and success. MISSION Educating and supporting members to advance good nutrition in Connecticut communities. SNACT.ORG MORE INFORMATIO N ON PAGE 10 ! • Professional Development Awards For more information and nomination forms, visit http://snact.org/index.php/membership/awards-and-scholarships or http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Awards/ ALL AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY MARCH 1. ACT NOW! I N T H I S From the President Executive Director’s Message We Value Our Industry Partners Meet the New Industry Council Members 2015 Regional Training Schedule “I Am School Nutrition” 3 4 5 6 7 8 I S S U E 2014 SNACT Food & Industry Show 2015 Hot Topics! Chapter Updates National School Lunch Week New Tasting Program Why Cafeteria Food Is the Best 9 11 23-24 25 26-27 28-29 SNACT Executive Board, 2014 – 2015 PRESIDENT Abby Kassman-Harned PRESDIENT-ELECT Lonnie Burt, MS, RD, CD-N VICE PRESIDENT Maggie Dreher TREASURER Jim Bondi, SNS SECRETARY Diane Carsten INDUSTRY REP. David Nichols Regional Representatives A Big Thank You to All of Our Past Presidents! Trish Molloy Beth Gankofskie Susan Maffe Alan Belchak Roberta Jacobs Ed Huff Eileen Faustich Wayne Wilson CHARTER OAK Diane Edwards, SNS Mary Ann Lopez Cindy Brooks MINUTE MAID Kristen Braccia Hufnagel Sharlene Wong Eldon Hafford MOHEGAN Maureen Nuzzo Victoria Biello Joann Fitzpatrick NAUGATUCK Mary Ann Martin Jackie Schipke Jean Richards NUTMEG Deb Timek Dana Plant Brad Devlin YANKEE CHAPTER Beth Pratt Madeleine Diker Frank Harris EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Denise DiMare Carol Brigham Committees (Chairs Listed First) EDUCATION Roberta Jacobs, SNS, Mary Ann Martin, Jackie Schipke, RD, SNS, Allison Thurston, Madeleine Diker INDUSTRY COUNCIL David Nichols, Chair, Mary Ann Lopez, SNS, Vice-Chair, Svetlana Kasem-Beg Amodeo, Neil Belleville, Diane Burbank, Sheri Cerruti, Susan Cowmeadow, Lynn Pellegrini, Doug Wade MARKETING Nick Aldi, Co-Chair, Nya Welinsky, Co-Chair, Ernie Koschmieder, Patti Patton, Dana Tice MEMBER SERVICES Christine Wallace, Chair, Eileen Girgenti, Shelley Hill, Dennis O’Connor, Brian Reynolds, Dianne Houlihan NOMINATING Trish Molloy, RD, CD-N NUTRITION Eileen Faustich, MS, SNS, Chair, Jessica D’Agnese, Amanda Aldred, RD, SNS, Kristen Braccia Hufnagel, Brunella Ibarrola, RD, Samantha Wilson PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Susan Maffe, Chair, Cindy Brooks, Tim Thurston, Sharlene Wong, Sue Yazdzik, Maura O’Malley, Roger Siering, Tracey Winzer (WAYS & MEANS) PUBLIC POLICY & LEGISLATION Cindy Brooks, Chair, Tim Cipriano, Dawn Crayco, Jeff Sidewater Regional Representatives are members of the legislative committee SINGLE UNIT Lynn Bustamante CHILD NUTRITION REP. Jackie Schipke, RD, SNS USDA REPRESENTATIVE Linda Hubeny CASBO REPRESENTATIVE Nancy Cole, Teri Yonsky 2 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut A Message from the President SNACT Vision: Well-nourished minds and bodies for Connecticut children to ensure lifelong health and success. SNACT Mission: Education and supporting members to advance good nutrition in Connecticut communities SNACT Values: • Passion for professional development and lifelong learning • Wellness and healthy lifestyles • Professional and fiscal integrity and transparency • Public policy outreach • Camaraderie, community and teamwork Happy New Year! Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday we were preparing for the new school year and now it is almost the halfway point. Looking back at the first half of this year we have faced the challenges of meeting the new program regulations for school breakfast and school lunch as well as the new “smart snack” requirements. While change is never easy, we certainly have had our share, which makes me think that we should be pretty good at it now! I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable winter break. I know that most of my friends and peers prefer the warm weather, but there are a few of us that just love the snow and all that winter brings. Good thing we live in the Northeast so we can all be happy with the weather some of the time!! The coming months will be busy for SNACT and our members. We have Hot Topics Luncheons on the calendar for Directors and five more Regional Training set up across the State. The Legislative Action Conference will be held at the end of February into March and Connecticut will be well represented. I know the Legislative Committee is also planning additional legislative site visits in our schools. The regional trainings are a great way to earn CEU’s and network with other members in different towns. Be sure to participate when one comes to your region. It is time to be thinking about awards. Chris Wallace, chair of membership committee has been to many chapter meetings getting the word out about SNA’s newly revised award categories. SNACT has our own Rising Star Awards for both directors and non-directors. Connecticut has been proud to have many winners on both the state and national level. Let’s keep that going, nominate someone today. Check the SNACT website at SNACT.org for more information or contact me directly at [email protected] or 860-870-6853. See you soon at a great SNACT event! Abby Kassman-Harned SNACT 2015 Calendar January 23 Foundations for Training Excellence February 1 SNACT Voting Deadline February 3 Board Meeting February 12 Industry Council Meeting March 1 Awards Deadline (Dir., Mgr., Emp. of the Year & Rising Star Awards) March 1-4 SNA Legislative Action Conference March 2-6 National School Breakfast Week March 5 Regional Training March 10 Regional Training March 25 Regional Training April 7 Regional Training April 8 Regional Training April 16 Industry Council Meeting April 23-25 SNA National Leadership Conference April 24 Hot Topics for Directors Hosted by Kelloggs May 5 Board Meeting June 26 SNACT Summer Conference July 12-15 SNA ANC School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 3 A Message from the Executive Director Happy 2015! One of the highlights of 2014 was our Food Show on November 4. Over 300 child nutrition professionals came together for the CT School Breakfast Summit and then the SNACT Food & Industry Show. This day’s theme was “Proud to Serve” and both events highlighted the pride we share in serving thousands of children nutritious meals every day throughout our State. The “Start with Half a Cup” initiative, which many SNACT members participated in developing, was one of the features of the Breakfast Summit. You can find the link to the SWHAC website, which contains a wealth of information, by visiting the SNACT website (www.snact.org) and clicking on our partners link. See page 9 for pictures and more details about the day. In addition to our regional trainings, we will sponsor NFSMI’s” Foundations for Training Excellence” seminar in January and a Hot Topics for Directors on “Charging Policies and How They Affect Your Program”. Both promise to be informative and timely. Links to register can be found on our website and in Thursday Thoughts. SNACTs website remains a great source of information and connections. And as an SNA member, you also have access to SNA’s webinars, magazine and online opportunities. I hope you take advantage of all that SNA and SNACT offer - you and your programs are worth the investment! Wishing you and your families much happiness and health in 2015! Thank you to our Industry partners, whose support as Sponsors and as Food Show vendors undergirds much of what we are able to do for our members. The revenue we generate from sponsorship and our show allows SNACT to continue to focus on ways we can help our members “Engage, Energize and Excel” ! And we are moving into 2015 with a full schedule of ways for you to do just that. I was delighted to read the November issue of School Nutrition Magazine, which focused on the value and importance of professional development and training-since a plethora of education and training opportunities are precisely what SNACT will be offering our members this Spring. The world of child nutrition is ever changing, and SNACT is here to make sure you have access to the training, camaraderie, and information you need to grow as a professional and improve your programs. This Spring’s regional trainings will be a great opportunity for you to expand and deepen your skill set. These trainings are free for SNACT members, with dinner generously provided by industry sponsors and will be offered throughout the State. Whether you are interested in “Going Green” or putting a little “sizzle” into your Lunchroom, you will find training and a location that you’ll be glad you attended! Please see the list of trainings on page 7. 4 | NUTMEGGER The SNACT Nutmegger is Currently Published Three Times Per Year Members are encouraged to submit photos and/or articles for upcoming Nutmegger issues. Have something fun happening in your school? Any interesting updates from a recent meeting you attended? Let us know! We love to see pictures of decorated kitchens, smiling staff serving lunch, or any fun events or activities that are happening in your district. Please email any submissions to Amanda Mueller at [email protected]. For information on advertising in upcoming issues, please see the industry page of our website at www.snact.org, or contact Amanda Mueller at [email protected]. We hope to hear from you soon! School Nutrition Association of Connecticut WE VALUE OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! It is important that every SNACT member recognize and show their appreciation to our Industry Partners. In this challenging economy and times, the viability of our association is jeopardy if Industry does not see the value in supporting us. How can you help? Take the time to recognize Industry's commitment to SNACT. Some simple suggestions how are below: • A simple "thank you" goes a long way. • Recognize who SNACT's sponsors are and recognize the value of their sponsorship • At SNACT events, spend time with Industry. Catch up with your colleagues later • Invite others to events to increase the value of participation to industry • Attend and engage at the Food Show and other SNACT events 3 things you probably didn't know about industry's contributions and commitment to SNACT: 1. Industry's contribution to SNACT's Annual Budget is consistently is in excess of 60%, while member dues only account for 4-5% of SNACT's Annual Budget. • In 2011-12, Industry contributed $134,784.18 to SNACT's Budget of $227,673.28. Conversely, the contribution of state dues for our 500+ members was only $10,769.00. Bottom line is...SNACT wouldn’t be SNACT without industry! • One way that industry supports SNACT is through sponsorship. Sponsorship ranges from the "Bronze" level to the "Platinum" level. The annual commitment of these sponsors ranges from $400.00 at the "Bronze" level to $2,000.00 at the Platinum level. Check out our website to see a full listing of our current sponsors or see the complete listing on pages 30 and 31 of this edition of the Nutmegger. 2. Without industry support, SNACT would not be able to: • Provide the Nutmegger, which is 100% underwritten (paid for) by Industry • Provide members with the services of a Public Relations Firm • Have an Executive Director to guide and provide a consistency to the Association • Provide Conferences and Educational Opportunities at discounted prices for members 3. Industry supports SNACT in many other ways besides financial such as: • Enhancing networking among directors • Supporting Chapter meetings • Educating at Conferences • Assisting in recruiting other sponsors • Volunteering and serving on almost every SNACT committee SAVE THE DATE SNACT SUMMER CONFERENCE FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015 School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 5 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Meet the New Industry Council Members! SNACT was pleased to welcome three new members to our Industry Council for the 2014-2016 term. Their terms began on August 1, 2014. Svetlana Amodeo is the Education Development Manager for PepsiCo Foodservice, K-12. She covers Connecticut, Rhode Island and Western Massachusetts for all schools and manages all lines of PepsiCo business, from Naked Juice and Izze to Frito-Lay and Quaker for school foodservice directors, districts and distributors. “Consulting to help food service directors grow their business and support their programs has been an interesting and challenging assignment, but one I love! Besides PepsiCo, I am a single parent of three teenagers, (13, 15, and 17) so I am entrenched in K-12, at work and at home! As a parent, I know that teaching kids about nutrition and helping them make healthy choices is a multifaceted, and challenging business. The thing that I love most about school nutrition are the people. Food Service Directors are some of the hardest working, most passionate people I know. I love their dedication to the students and the schools and know the pride they take in their work. Wanting to know more about the industry, I spent my own time in this last year getting certified by SNA and have just earned my SNA Level 3 certification, of which I am very proud! I am honored to be selected to serve on the Industry Council and look forward to opportunities for growth in the upcoming two years!” Sheri Cerruti is the Director of K-12 Sales for InFusion Sales Group. She manages New England Region, from Connecticut to Maine. “I began calling on multiple segments of the food service Industry in 1980 and moved into the K-12 School Food Segment about 9 years ago. And I found my home in the school segment! One of the most notable things about the school segment is the knowledge and professionalism of the directors and staff. Their passion for feeding children is contagious. My goal is to increase the number of children we feed with nutritious (and delicious) meals.” Thank you our IC members for all they do to make SNACT and our members successful! About SNACT’s Industry Council: SNACT’s Industry Council is a valuable partner to SNACT. This energetic group, with David Nichols as Chair, is made up of 8 Industry representatives and a SNACT representative. IC members offer guidance and input on a variety of events, including our Fall Industry Buying Show, Hot Topics for Directors, the Winter Academy and the Summer Conference. Four IC positions will be opening for the 2015-17 term. Industry sponsors will receive email notification and the application via email. Neil Belleville is the Food Service Equipment Specialist for the Warehouse Store Fixture Company. He covers all of Connecticut. Neil has been involved with SNACT for over eight years. Start With Half a Cup (SWHAC) “We are the largest food service equipment dealer in Connecticut, and we offer both large and small equipment, as well as design and installation services. I love my job! I have had the opportunity to work with wonderful directors across the state to upgrade equipment to meet the changing needs at their schools. It has been a great and rewarding challenge.” The SWHAC website is a great resource where you can find valuable resources- including a toolkit and information on ways to increase school children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables- starting with “half a cup”! You can go to their website: swhacct.org or go to the SNACT websitewww.snact.org and click on the partners link. 6 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut SNACT Education Committee Spring 2015 Regional Training Schedule SNACT is pleased to offer spring 2015 Regional Trainings! Trainings are FREE for members - our education program is underwritten through the support of all our sponsors. Registration is on site and begins at the time listed. Dinner is provided by the evening’s dinner sponsor. Attendees receive 1 SNA CEU per meeting. For additional information please contact: Roberta Jacobs: [email protected]. DATE LOCATION INSTRUCTOR / TOPIC DINNER SPONSOR March 5, 2015 Program begins at: 3:45pm Berlin High School 139 Patterson Way, Berlin, CT Roberta Jacobs Preparing for Your State Review Dino Tessicini General Mills March 10, 2015 Program begins at: 3:30pm Stonington High School 176 S Broad St., Pawcatuck, CT Tim Paquette & Ernie Koschmieder Going Green Deb Shechtel Acosta March 25, 2015 Program begins at: 4:00pm Cheshire HS 525 S Main St., Cheshire Village Cheshire, CT Allison Thurston Dealing with Allergens Lynne Pellegrini J&J April 7, 2015 Program begins at: 3:30pm Northwestern Region 7 HS 100 Battistoni Dr., Winchester, CT Roberta Jacobs Proper Receiving Procedures Angie Ferguson (Dennis O’Connor) ES Foods April 8, 2015 Program begins at: 3:15pm E.O. Smith High School 1235 Storrs Rd., Storrs, CT Roberta Jacobs Signs, Sizes and Sizzle Brian Jette SFS WHAT’S HAPPENING CONNECTICUT CREC Discovery Academy Wins Grant to Improve School Wellness The CREC Discovery Academy will fund nutrition and physical fitness initiatives with the $1,135 grant it recently received from the New England Dairy and Food Council. The Fuel Up to Play 60 grant will be used to purchase special equipment that will keep milk and other perishable food safe for students. The money will also be used to promote healthy choices by making healthier foods more visible to students standing in the lunch line, by keeping healthy foods at appropriate temperatures, and by providing passive nutrition education through colorful posters and bulletin board displays. In addition, the grant will allow the CREC Discovery Academy to establish a morning walking club that will be led by physical education teacher Mike Mancini. The club is expected to start off small and then expand in August 2015 when the CREC Discovery Academy moves into its permanent home—a new building on Cumberland Road in Wethersfield. “We couldn’t be more excited about receiving this grant,” said CREC Discovery Academy Principal Lynn Toper. “A strong focus on healthy eating and physical fitness is so important for our students to ensure their overall well-being.” The New England Dairy and Food Council officially presented the check to Toper and CREC Food Services Program Coordinator Jeff Sidewater on September 10. Grant sponsor Ned Ellis, of Mapleleaf Farm in Hebron, was also in attendance and met with students. “The New England Dairy and Food Council is pleased to be able to provide CREC Discovery Academy with funds to improve their school wellness environment,” said Amanda Aldred, a school nutrition specialist for the council. “I look forward to seeing their Fuel Up to Play 60 program progress during the school year.” School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 7 “I AM SCHOOL NUTRITION” Q&A with Karen Olson, Food Service Manager at Casimer Pulaski School Last issue we learned that Casimer Pulaski School in Meriden won an elite National Award, The Gold Award of Distinction, as part of the Healthier U.S. Challenge. Casimer Pulaski is one of only two schools in the nation to receive that honor. Today we are featuring Food Service Manager, Karen Olson, of Casimer Pulaski in our member highlight, “I Am School Nutrition”. What inspired you to work in School Nutrition? A neighbor worked at a school kitchen and told me they needed a substitute in their school. I was hired and worked in the High School every day for one year. I learned the ropes quickly, and loved it. I had little kids and worked 10-2. “Perfect Mom Job”. How long have you worked? 1996 to present. I worked in different schools as a sub then as a permanent staff member, then became a Manager of the Middle School for about 10 years. About seven years ago change became available as the elementary Manager. I figured I would try something new and different. Tell me some of the most rewarding things about this job. Seeing the students happy faces when they get a treat or just that you are feeding them something good that they like. It makes you feel good about yourself making someone happy. What is the most popular new item you have added to the menu? We recently introduced mini drumstick shaped chicken. The kids like a change. Surprisingly the kids also liked the make your own salad bar, something we did for our special occasion – spinach salad with craisins, cukes, and mandarin oranges. Picking their own toppings was fun and exciting. What is the funniest thing a student has ever said to you? We made sliced bananas with whipped cream, drizzled hershey choc sauce on it and cupped it for the students. One little guy said “OH SWEET SNOWMAN BANANA PIE.” So cute! What would be your dream vacation and who would you bring? Alaska since it is supposed to be so remote and beautiful. Everyone I know who has been fall in love with it. And it’s right here in U.S. I would bring my husband. If you did not work in school nutrition what would be your profession? Probably some type of secretarial work. Previously worked as a typist in one of the Insurance companies. I enjoy School Nutrition for all of the variety it offers – fast paced, physical and keeps you going. What is your favorite movie? A Christmas Story. Hobbies? Hiking and walking my dog Ollie. Is there anything you would like to share with other SNACT members? Have patience. Be proud of what you do. 8 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut 2014 SNACT Food & Industry Show On November 4, 2014 over 300 child nutrition professionals attended the CT School Breakfast Summit and the SNACT Food & Industry Show. The morning featured exciting speakers, including Dr. Janey Thornton, USDA Undersecretary, interesting workshops, and the HUSSC Gold Medal of Distinction award for Meriden. Thank you and congratulations to the morning session sponsors: the Start With Half a Cup Initiative, the CT No Kid Hungry Campaign and the NE Dairy and Food Council. That afternoon over 125 vendors showcased the latest offerings in child nutrition! Attendees sampled, sipped and learned about hundreds of products and came away informed and impressed by the high quality and range of products available. Congratulations to PepsiCo/Frito Lay, who came in first in our booth decorating contest, followed by General Mills in 2nd place and Thurston Foods in 3rd.Thank you to both the vendors and attendees who made our 2014 show such a success! School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 9 10 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut WHAT’S HAPPENING CONNECTICUT TOLLAND DON’T FORGET! Don’t forget to vote in SNACT’s elections! Voting will be open until February 1. You should have received your ballot via email. If you didn’t, you can follow the links on our website, or contact Denise at [email protected] for either the electronic link or a paper ballot. The following executive committee positions and candidates are: Maureen Nuzzo, Old Saybrook Vice President Beth Pratt, Coventry Treasurer (2015-17) Chris Wallace, CREC Charter Oak Chapter Regional Rep. (2015-17) Erin Perpetua Norwich Mohegan Chapter Regional Rep. (2015-17) Birch Grove Primary School in Tolland Celebrates National School Lunch Week with displays and information on good nutrition for students and staff. Kariann Sadlon, Mansfield Yankee Chapter Regional Rep. (2015-17) 2015 HOT TOPICS SAVE THE DATE(S)! We have some great Hot Topic meetings coming up this year! Mark your calendar, and visit www.snact.org for updated details. Thank you to Foothill Farms, who sponsored our first Hot Topics of the year in Hartford. We have two more scheduled for this year: JANUARY 16: “CHARGING POLICIES AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR PROGRAM” Sponsored by JTM APRIL 24: “CUSTOMER AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS” Sponsored by Kelloggs School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 11 Rick Lewis 555 Constitution Drive Taunton, MA 02780 508-567-2321 [email protected] 12 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 13 14 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 15 16 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 17 18 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 19 20 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 21 22 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut Program Development Committee Update Change is not something that is new to us in child nutrition programs. Over the past three years our programs have dealt with many changes, with many more certain to come. And although sometimes the change has been overwhelming and we’ve questioned “why”, looking past all of that to the end intended result brings an understanding and acceptance. It should not be a surprise to any of us that SNACT and our Industry Partners have been affected by these changes as well. Over the past several years, SNACT has been taking a hard look at what we are doing as an organization and what changes are necessary to better meet the diverse needs of our membership in a fiscally responsible manner. Hard decisions have had to be made by all of us. The program development committee included. But, change brings opportunity, and we are excited about restructuring SNACT’s annual event calendar and the opportunities that our committee will provide SNACT members and partners in the future. More information on planned event and programming changes will be provided in the next edition of The Nutmegger. As we begin our restructuring process, there will be a year or two of transition. In this transition, we are cancelling this year’s Winter Academy, previously scheduled for Saturday, February 7. To help meet your continuing education needs, please consider attending one or more of the free regional trainings provided across the state by the education committee. CHAPTER UPDATE SNACT Mohegan Chapter Maureen Nuzzo - (Old Saybrook) Regional Representative Heidi Buchholtz -(Montville School) Chapter President, Sharon Shettleworth - (RSD No 17) Chapter Secretary Linda Hansen - (RSD No 17) Chapter Treasurer ATTENDEES: Timothy Paquette-Stonington, Sharon Shettleworth, Linda Hansen and Jean Nolet - Regional School District No. 17, Marge Bergeson, Carol Dodson, Suzanne Fallucco, Patti Boucher, Colleen Overton, Daniella, Yong Son Callahan - Groton, Heidi Buchholtz-Montville, Lynn Bustamante, Annie Sock-foon NG, Lou Ann Culver and Deb Gardner-Norwich Maureen Nuzzo - Old Saybrook MINUTES FROM MEETING ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014: Meeting was hosted by Ernie Koschmieder, Food Service Director at Fitch High School in Groton BUSINESS: Timothy Paquette, Food Service Director of Stonington Schools opened the meeting talking about the Breakfast Summit, Food Show and reminded everyone that Fuel up to Play has grant opportunities for free equipment for schools from $500 to $4,000. TREASURER’S REPORT: Linda Hansen reported that we have $495.42 in the bank account TRAINING: Chef Maureen Nuzzo of Old Saybrook Schools presented us with a Knife Skills Training: • Anatomy of a Knife • Showed us the different kinds of knives • Safe Knife Handling • Demonstrated all the basic cuts - Chopping, Mincing, Julienne, Dicing, Oblique or Roll cut, Shredding and Chiffonade As always, Maureen did a great job and we all walked away from this training with some great knife skill knowledge. All attendees received a certificate and 1 hour of CEU. OTHER: A Raffle was held and we collected $30. Thank you to all who contributed the raffle prizes! The meeting ended with delicious appetizers and dinner provided by Infusion Sales!! The next meeting is not scheduled yet. School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 23 CHAPTER UPDATE SNACT Yankee Chapter The Yankee Chapter has had two fun, educational meetings so far this year. The first meeting took place on October 8 and was hosted by Coventry Schools. The program, Eat With Your Eyes, presented by Christine Wallace, taught us the importance of both plate presentation and making our serving lines exciting and engaging to our students. A delicious dinner was provided by Thurston Foods. The second meeting was held at Tolland High School on November 12, 2014. We took the opportunity to host a regional training provided by SNACT. Shelly Clapprood, certified health coach, spoke on understanding the health benefits of whole foods vs processed food in terms of calorie and nutrient density. She spoke about the hype surrounding carbs, protein and fat, and clarified how we should be making those food choices. She also stressed the importance of micronutrients in healing the body and preventing health issues. Shelly discussed the health benefits of increasing fruit and vegetable intake and the difference between juicing and making smoothies. Dinner was hosted by Brian Scagliarini from Thin & Trim, a 100 year old, family owned company which produces the lowest sodium deli meats in the country. Dinner provided the opportunity Do you have ideas for activities to taste test many of these products. for YOUR Chapter? Yankee Chapter members celebrated the holiday season Has your Chapter played Kitchen Survivor? Or offered with a party at Georgina’s in Bolton on December 4, 2014. Kitchen Olympics? Recipe Contests? Or Poster Contests? In addition to a delicious meal, there was a gift exchange and a cookie swap. It was a fun, festive evening. Call your Chapter Representative and keep your Chapter active by becoming involved. Watch your email for more information on upcoming Contact your Regional Representative or Chapter chapter meetings, coming soon! President today! Jill Phillips, Yankee Chapter President Minute Maid Chapter Regional Representatives Kristen Braccia Hufnagel [email protected] Naugatuck Valley Chapter Regional Representatives Mary Ann Martin [email protected] Yankee Chapter Regional Representatives Beth Pratt [email protected] Charter Oak Chapter Regional Representatives Diane Edwards [email protected] Mohegan Chapter Regional Representatives Maureen Nuzzo [email protected] Nutmeg Chapter Regional Representatives Deb Timek [email protected] 24 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut IN THE NEWS USDA Blog October 24, 2014 How USDA Celebrated National School Lunch Week Last week, USDA celebrated National School Lunch Week from October 12-18 with exciting local events across the country. It was a chance for USDA staff to meet with students and hear what they think of the newer, fresher options in the lunch room. It was also an opportunity for USDA officials to say “thank you” to the hardworking school food service professionals who make healthy school lunches possible. Robin Bailey Jr., Southeast Regional Administrator at the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, thanks school nutrition professionals and tells 5th graders at Ford Elementary School in Cobb County, GA how important nutritious breakfasts and lunches are to peak performance at school and in life. Healthy meals at school are an essential part of every child’s health, development, and academic success. Students’ ability to learn in the classroom, grow up healthy and reach their fullest potential depends on the environment they learn in. And that is why Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, so that all our nation’s students can experience a healthier school environment with more nutritious options. Here are a couple highlights from the week: Under Secretary Kevin Concannon, center, watches on as a student takes a bite of his apple at Casimir Pulaski Elementary School in Meriden, Conn., Oct. 17, during National School Lunch Week. This is the first school in the state of Connecticut to be awarded with the Healthier US School Challenge (Gold Award of Distinction), which recognizes schools that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. Kids are eating more fruits and vegetables as a result of updated standards. A recent Harvard study has concluded that, under the updated standards, kids are now eating 16 percent more vegetables and 23 percent more fruit at lunch. Research shows that school-based programs that encourage healthy eating, physical activity and positive attitudes toward body image are among a range of interventions that can help reduce levels of childhood obesity. FNS Administrator Audrey Rowe visits Oxon Hill High School in Maryland to celebrate National School Lunch Week. Here, Rowe takes the time to thank the school’s Food Service Professionals for all their hard work and dedication. According to polling research done by the Pew Charitable Trusts, 80 percent of Americans favor national nutrition standards for snacks and a la carte foods sold in U.S. schools. (continued on page 27) School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 25 IN THE NEWS The Day November 6, 2014 Students Put New Tasting Program to the Test By Judy Benson New London - After a morning of learning with their eyes and ears, third-graders Lizmarie Kooyip, Christina Amiama and Amyah Manko employed their taste buds Wednesday in a lesson about what’s good to eat. of the Ledge Light Health District, FRESH New London and the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. The project is supported by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant that funds a coordinator who works with schools, farmers and local organizations to increase the amount of locally grown produce in schools by 1 percent and improve the nutritional value of school lunches. In addition to New London, other districts involved include Norwich, Old Lyme, East Lyme, Montville and Waterford. Cindy Barry, farm to school project director at Ledge Light, said the Farm Fresh project began last year, and has so far focused on building an organization, learning about school garden programs and determining how to reduce barriers to get more locally grown produce from farms into school cafeterias. A C.B. Jennings Elementary School second-grader tries the butternut squash soup while a classmate watches to see how she likes it Wednesday during lunch, part of the Farm Fresh Schools initiative of Ledge Light Health. Dana Jensen/The Day The three girls were among dozens of students at C.B. Jennings Elementary School who sampled butternut squash soup during lunch in the cafeteria, then got a chance to vote on whether they “loved it,” “liked it” or just “tried it” but didn’t become converts. The votes were tallied later in the day. All three girls, like many other children at Jennings, said this was their first taste of the nutritious orange vegetable, since their families do not serve it at home. “It was good. It tasted like oatmeal,” Lizmarie said, and her classmates agreed. “I saw some in a box and asked my father to get some, but he said ‘no’ because he didn’t know what it was,” said Amyah, recalling a recent visit to a local farm stand. The tasting Wednesday was part of the Farm Fresh New London County Schools Project’s CT Harvest for Schools Campaign, in which 13 districts are featuring a different locally grown vegetable in their cafeterias each month. Farm Fresh and the CT Harvest initiatives are partnerships 26 | NUTMEGGER The Harvest for Schools portion of the project started in October, with a taste test early in the month followed by serving that month’s featured vegetable as part of the regular lunch offerings, said Samantha Wilson, food service director for New London schools. “It’s exciting for the kids to get to try new things with their friends,” she said. For October, kale was the featured vegetable. It was served as kale chips - a big hit with the students, Wilson said and raw in a salad, which also was popular. The kale was purchased from Provider Farm in Salem. “It’s all about the way you prepare it,” she said. “We chopped it up in bite-sized pieces and served it with apples, tossed with honey mustard dressing.” The squash, she said, came from Cloverleigh Farm in Colchester. Lucy Lyman, the FoodCorps service member who teaches New London students about good nutrition, took charge of the first steps in turning it into a kidfriendly dish, halving and roasting the squash so cafeteria staff could then scoop it out and puree it with chicken stock, chopped carrots and onions, cumin and a bit of heavy cream. Copies of the recipe are sent home to parents. School Nutrition Association of Connecticut Students Put New Tasting Program to the Test (continued from page 26) Wilson said the campaign fits in well with the new federal nutrition guidelines for school lunches, which emphasize increasing the amounts and kinds of fresh vegetables children are eating. By featuring a different fruit or vegetable each month in a fun event, she said, kids are more apt to actually eat the item when they see it on their lunch tray rather than throwing it away. “We don’t want to have well-fed garbage cans,” Wilson said. Samantha Wilson, director of food services for New London schools, laughs with a C.B. Jennings Elementary School second-grader who was sampling the soup Wednesday during lunch. The butternut squash for the soup was from Cloverleigh Farm in Colchester. Dana Jensen/The Day How USDA Celebrated National School Lunch Week (continued from page 25) Virginia Hunger Solutions and USDA staff celebrated Richmond City Public Schools becoming one of the first in Virginia to implement the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) district-wide, providing school breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge this school year. know that 44 percent of schools participate in the Farm to school Program, which brings fresh and local foods into school cafeterias. Additionally, independent research indicates that students who eat school breakfast achieve 17.5 percent higher test scores and miss 1.5 less days of school. Over 90 percent of schools report that they are meeting the updated nutrition standards. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is an option that allows school districts in high poverty areas to offer school meals at no cost to students. USDA staff celebrates National School Lunch Week with students in Carmel-Clay, Ind. Thanks to the new standards, we are seeing students eating up to 16 percent more vegetables and up to 23 percent more fruit at lunch. We The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service will continue to work with schools, parents, teachers, food service professionals and local farmers to ensure that the healthy choice is the easy choice for our nation’s students. School Nutrition Association of Connecticut NUTMEGGER | 27 IN THE NEWS New York Times December 23, 2014 Why Cafeteria Food Is the Best By Jane E. Brody Many parents undoubtedly think they are doing the best for their children by having them bring lunch from home instead of eating the lunches served in school. But recent studies clearly prove them wrong. Credit Tim Robinson Home-packed lunches, the research showed, are likely to be considerably less nourishing than the meals offered in schools that abide by current nutrition guidelines for the National School Lunch Program. That program is, distressingly, increasingly under attack. The requirements for less salt and only whole grains were already reversed in the final federal spending bill approved by the Senate on Dec. 13. But the program must not continue to be undermined, and more schools should be encouraged to participate. Nearly 32 million of the more than 50 million children in public elementary and secondary schools currently eat school lunches, most of them provided through the program. For about 60 percent of those children, half or more of their daily calories are consumed at lunch. Those numbers, along with the recent findings on meals brought from home, make the contents of lunches served in school especially important to the health of America’s children, now and in the future. One study, conducted in 12 elementary and intermediate schools in Houston, found that compared with what is served in school, lunches brought from home contained fewer servings of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and milk than the national program mandates. Packed lunches also contained more desserts, chips and sweetened nondairy drinks, none of which can be served by schools that participate in the federal program. “About 90 percent of lunches from home contained desserts, snack chips, and sweetened beverages,” the study found. The study also found that, contrary to widespread complaints from food service personnel, there has been no increase in food wasted by children who eat school lunches since rule changes took effect in 2012. About the same percentage of foods were uneaten and discarded as were wasted the year before. A second study, conducted among pre-K and kindergarten children in four schools in rural Virginia, found that calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar were significantly higher and protein, fiber and calcium were significantly lower in lunches brought from home than in the meals served in school. A third study examined food selection and plate waste by elementary and middle school children in four schools in an 28 | NUTMEGGER School Nutrition Association of Connecticut urban, low-income school district before and after introduction of the new meal standards. Juliana F. W. Cohen and co-authors found no increase in waste and a significantly greater selection and consumption of vegetables and fruits from the improved menus. “These results suggest that the new school meal standards have improved students’ overall diet quality,” they wrote. “Legislation to weaken the standards is not warranted.” Before the 2012-2013 school year, a school lunch had to offer _ to 1 cup of fruits and vegetables combined (no variety specified), 1 cup of milk of any kind, 1 ounce of grains of any kind (at least 8 to 15 ounces a week) and 1 1/2 to 2 ounces of meat or a meat alternative (at least 7 1/2 to 15 ounces per week). The current program requires _ to 1 cup of fruits, _ to 1 cup of vegetables, 1 cup of 1 percent or fat-free milk (if sweetened, fat-free only), 1 to 2 ounces of grains (half of which are whole grains, to a maximum of 9 to 12 ounces a week), and 1 to 2 ounces of meat or a meat alternative (to a maximum of 10 to 12 ounces a week). A variety of vegetables — not just potatoes — must be served, and children must select at least three of these options each day, including at least one fruit or vegetable. These improvements in the nutritional value of lunches served in schools that are eligible for federal reimbursement followed congressional passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The law was prompted by shocking findings in 2008 by child nutrition experts who examined the contents of school lunches for the Institute of Medicine. As Dr. Jennifer A. Woo Baidal and Dr. Elsie M. Taveras reported in November in The New England Journal of Medicine, the 14 experts found that “children ate strikingly few fruits and vegetables, with little variety. Potatoes accounted for one third of vegetable consumption. Intake of refined grains was high. Almost 80 percent of children consumed more saturated fat than was recommended, and sodium intake was excessive in all age groups.” Perhaps most distressing, “children ate more than 500 excess calories from solid fats and added sugars per day,” the doctors reported. As a mother of two boys and grandmother of four, I know that many parents who give children lunch from home want to be sure it is eaten, so they pack what they know the children like. But that is exactly how we got to the dismal state of child obesity and the disease-promoting eating habits that too often carry over into adulthood. Many chronic ailments that currently trouble adult Americans originate with poor diets acquired in childhood. Few question the need to do a better job of teaching children to eat and enjoy the foods that are best for them. Yet lessons on nutrition and hands-on experience with wholesome foods often fall by the wayside in busy households and in schools that now spend more time “teaching to the test” than fostering healthy bodies and minds. But, experts say, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways to introduce wholesome foods into academic lessons and to make what is served in the lunchroom more appealing to students so that they’d be less inclined to bring less healthful foods from home. It may not be easy to convince children to eat what’s good for them, but there are clearly strategies that can help. Karen W. Cullen, professor of pediatrics and nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine, suggested that parents learn more about preparing healthy lunches (www.choosemyplate.gov is a good place to start), take their children shopping, let them to pick out vegetables and fruits to try and help prepare them at home. “Kids are adaptable and sometimes need repeat exposures to new foods,” Dr. Cohen said. “Given enough opportunity, they can learn to like them.” “If you only expose children to chicken nuggets and French fries, that’s what they’ll like to eat,” Dr. Baidal said. “Schools can help by giving foods creative names and presenting them in fun ways. Food service personnel can prompt children to try different foods when they come through the line.” Nutritious foods can be incorporated into classroom lessons in math, science and language arts, then served in the lunchroom. Foods that are familiar are more likely to be chosen and eaten. 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