Close to 6,000 school nutrition professionals from around the country gathered at the Annual National Conference of the School Nutrition Association, this year held in St. Louis, MO. Education sessions were held for members to share ideas and insights, while also providing the latest in skills and knowledge about school meal trends. Read more…
Every school day, the hardworking cooks, patient service-line personnel and friendly cafeteria cashiers work to build positive connections with students. The Lewiston-Altura School District #857 (MN) high school staff created the Food Service Connections Award to recognize meaningful student interactions and planned an extra special way to present them to students last month. Read more…
Following trends in popular restaurants and cafes, Hopewell Valley Regional School District (NJ) has crafted an exciting and unique menu for students across the district’s six schools. Since scratch cooking was introduced into the food service department about five years ago, the menu selection has continued to grow each year, according to Food Service Director Denise Menza.
The district adheres to the USDA guidelines while utilizing ingredients in creative ways, helping to entice students and staff with healthy and delicious meal offerings. Read more…
Students at Sussex Central High School (DE) held a first-ever school lunch contest on their student-produced weekly show, Central Access TV. Staff and students gave candid interviews describing their favorite school meals and sharing their predictions for a segment called Lunch Madness, a play on the popular March Madness basketball tournament. Read more…
With each smile or kind word, cafeteria employees make a difference in children’s school days. Their hard work and dedication can go unrecognized, but not on May 3, School Lunch Hero Day! Help celebrate these deserving and beloved lunch ladies and gentlemen! The national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) received hundreds of nominations of stellar school nutrition professionals and awarded six Regional Employees of the Year. The award was created to recognize outstanding school nutrition employees who influence the quality of school meals through customer service. Meet the 2019 winners: Read more…
Overseeing everything from staff training and food presentation to equipment maintenance, managers of school kitchens and cafeterias are masters at multitasking. From the moment students walk into their lunchrooms, they are prepared to create a positive and healthy school meal experience. In recognition of their outstanding hard work and dedication, the national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) has awarded the 2019 Regional Managers of the Year, considered the highest honor a school nutrition manager can earn. The award recognizes a cafeteria manager who has demonstrated dedication and ingenuity to improve his or her school meal program. Read more…
The national non-profit, School Nutrition Association (SNA), has awarded the 2019 Regional Directors of the Year, celebrating individuals for their excellence in leadership and commitment to the school meal programs that thrive under their direction each day. Excelling at budgeting, professional training and leading cafeteria staff in great customer service, these Regional Director of the Year recipients ensure the overall success of their school meal programs and students’ school day. Read more…
Every day heroes fight hunger from the cafeteria every school day. School Lunch Heroes are unassuming culinary ninjas, planning their school lunch menus, creating funny and festive bulletin boards in the cafeteria and serving a hot meal with a warm smile. Effort, dedication and compassion are the secret ingredients to their success, and a lot goes into making the school meal experience fun and nutritious for their students.
Recognizing this year’s best of the best who stood out in the school foodservice profession, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) has announced national winners for Director, Manager and Employee of the Year. These awards showcase the amazing work of school nutrition professionals in time to celebrate School Lunch Hero Day! The non-profit organization has teamed up again with Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author and illustrator of the popular LUNCH LADY graphic novel series, to celebrate all of America’s school nutrition professionals through School Lunch Hero Day, which will take place on Friday, May 3. Read more…
When some teachers first hear “Breakfast in the Classroom” they can be skeptical about the idea of encouraging food and eating in their rooms. But with a well-planned rollout, Garfield Heights City Schools (Ohio) Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program quickly won over both students and staff with its benefits.
“The staff recognizes what a good thing BIC is for our kids and are willing to work together to make sure that it is effective and works for everyone,” said GHCS Teacher Tarese Lapelli. “Because of better access to healthy breakfast, student attention is better, there is less tardiness, we don’t see the typical hunger mood swings and sleepiness, and the kids are more prepared for learning.”
While any BIC program will need tweaks or alterations to make it work best for the school, Lapelli said “it is all about how you approach it with your kids – go in with a positive mindset.” Read more…
After implementing a universal free Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program for its elementary and middle schools, Whiteville City Schools (NC) breakfast participation increased from 30 to 80 percent. Building off that success, Director of Nutrition Services Jamesie Gentry wanted to implement “Grab and Go” and “Second Chance Breakfast” options at the high school for the 2018-19 school year.
Whiteville went through a few different iterations before finding success in the ‘Grab and Go’ to the classroom model, which increased participation in its middle school from 30 to 80 percent. Read more…
