May 10, 2017
We’re just two months away from the biggest school nutrition conference of the year—the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. We look forward to seeing new faces and meeting old friends at the Atlanta Convention Center, July 9-12, 2017. Don’t forget that early bird registration ends on Friday, May 12, 2017, after…
May 7, 2017
Colleen Fillmore (Ph.D, RDN, LD, SNS) has served as USDA Idaho Child Nutrition Director for thirteen years, having got her start in USDA programs in Omaha, Nebraska, in the early 1980s. Over the course of her career, Fillmore says, she “pretty much saw the birth of the [school] breakfast program.” “Breakfast was just barely getting…
April 26, 2017
If you work in a Utah school or district that struggles with breakfast participation, we’ve got some news for you: Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom are now offering breakfast-in-the-classroom grants in your state. According to FRAC’s most recent School Breakfast Scorecard, Utah has increased breakfast participation by 7.7 percent, but it’s not enough; they…
April 17, 2017
With just a few weeks left in the school year, it’s a busy time for everyone, which is why we don’t want you to miss upcoming child nutrition webinars from School Nutrition Association* and Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). If you’re interested in school breakfast/breakfast in the classroom, afterschool feeding, and CEP, be sure…
April 11, 2017
Do you work in a Mississippi school or district that struggles with breakfast participation? Are mornings in your school cafeteria chaotic or disruptive? Is your breakfast line too long to accommodate all of the students who want to eat the morning meal at school? Breakfast-in-the-classroom goes beyond increasing access to school breakfast; it’s a proven…
April 9, 2017
Timikel Sharpe vividly remembers wondering, as a young child, why some children had homes and nice families while others did not. Though she grew up in a loving home with two parents, Sharpe was aware not everyone was so lucky. “I remember saying, ‘Mom, why doesn’t everyone just adopt one kid, and then there won’t…
April 8, 2017
Earth Day is right around the corner—how is your school nutrition program celebrating? The official date for Earth Day is Saturday, April 22, 2017, but you can celebrate any time during the school week. Earth Day is the perfect time to talk about what we can do to create healthier, more sustainable school environments. For…
April 4, 2017
When students are hungry, they can’t learn! And when students eat breakfast, the results are pretty spectacular: Improved academic performance on standardized tests Improved concentration and memory Better math scores Better attendance and fewer tardies Fewer trips to the nurse’s office, and fewer behavioral referalls to the front office And that’s just for starters. Fewer…
April 3, 2017
Liz Whidden’s director Melinda Bonner describes her as a dedicated employee and a caring person who looks for any opportunity to help others. Whidden is a “servant leader” who exhibits the heart and work ethic of a hero in the school cafeteria, and in the community. Bonner says that while others wonder where Liz gets…
March 29, 2017
This weekend SNA members will gather in Washington, D.C., for the 45th Legislative Action Conference (LAC). With a new administration and a new Congress, engaging in discussions with our elected representatives about school nutrition policies is more important than ever. LAC is an opportunity for school nutrition professionals to speak up, and to help shape…
