One of the most useful, simple tools to use is Google Alerts—we really can’t recommend it enough. We got into the habit of using Google Alerts to track relevant news and information surrounding school nutrition (and specifically, school breakfast) after reading Free for All: Fixing School Food in America by Jan Poppendieck. Jan wrote about using the Alerts as part of her research, and we’ve been employing the same strategy ever since.
February has offered up some great stories about breakfast in the classroom, from all over the country. If you are passionate about childhood nutrition and school food, we encourage you to set up your own Google Alerts—we love getting stories each day on “school nutrition” and “school breakfast.” Here are a few of our favorites from February:
- “Whittier wraps up nutrition unit with healthy breakfast at school” A special breakfast is served in the classroom, capping off a six-week nutrition education unit that included lessons on the importance of breakfast. Parent volunteers were on hand to help serve students a menu of fresh fruit, juice, low-fat milk, yogurt, cereal, mini-bagels, muffins, and donuts, and fresh pancakes with syrup.
- “National Breakfast Week” We were thrilled to see National School Breakfast Week getting some attention in Kentucky. Excitement about this year’s “School Breakfast—Go for Gold!” themed event is growing—Central Restaurant Products blogged about it, too.
- “Celebrity Chef Fights Cut to School Breakfast Program” Chef Bryan Voltaggio (Volt Restaurant, Frederick, MD) fights to keep school breakfast going in Annapolis.
- “Produce specs a critical part of school foodservice” Lee Mannering at the PMA Blog follows up on topics relating to produce after participating in a recent SNF “Webinar Wednesday” webinar on produce purchasing. You can also find info on produce in this archived Peer2Peer Connect Q&A on produce specifications from SNF.
Please join us for the two remaining online events on our current Webinar Wednesday schedule, and stay tuned for future webinar topics to be announced! Coming up we have:
- February 28, 2012: Peer2Peer Connect Q&A, “How to improve the online presence of your CN Department.” Register online.
- March 6, 2012: Peer2Peer Connect Q&A, “Food Allergies.” Register online.