Why is grocery shopping on an empty stomach such a bad idea? More likely than not some items appear in your cart that were not on the grocery list. Not to mention, your wallet might be a bit thinner than …
Benefits of School Lunch for Your Kids
The Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers several child nutrition programs. One of the most well-known of these is the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), administered through state agencies for reimbursing schools that …
Who is Eligible to Participate in Federally Funded School Food Programs?
The Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers several child nutrition programs including the the National School Lunch Program, and the School Breakfast Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Special Milk Program, Summer Food …
Making School Meals a Family Meal Time
When you think of family meals, what picture pops into your head? Even though family meals may mean something different to everyone, the benefits are indisputable. The Society for Research in Child Development has outlined the following outcomes. Family meals …
Seek Parental Involvement in Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Initiatives
Children’s food preferences are influenced by their parents and families from their very first bites. Whether Mom or Dad is a gourmet chef or the family prefers eating out, children’s eating habits are closely tied to those of their parents. …
Benefits of a Multiple School Workgroup and How to Start One
Food Service Directors (FSD) can be lone rangers in their individual school districts. The autonomy can be satisfying but the work can sometimes be isolating. Many district food service directors have organized themselves at the city, county, regional or national …
Join Your Child at School Lunch
With school, extra-curricular activities, and the constant distraction of technology, children today are busier than ever. Unfortunately, this often means there is less time for you and your child to sit down and talk over dinner. Without these important talks …
Generating Buy-In From School Administration Officials
While most members of the school community are generally in favor of changes that can improve the school environment for students, one of the challenges that sometimes crops up when a Smarter Lunchroom Makeover is proposed is resistance from the …
The Frazer Eagle Café- Smarter Lunchroom Makeover Soars in Syracuse
It’s a bird, it’s a plane- no, it’s the Frazer Eagle Café! – the first of its kind in the 28-building urban district- and its kids are soaring over the awesome new “café”. Colorful, healthy food and activity choice “artwork” …
The “Trigger” Effect: Certain Foods May Trigger Kids to Buy or Avoid Junk Food
Students typically walk past a wide assortment of food options as they proceed through the lunch line to buy meals at school—and the foods they pass on the way can actually impact what they wind up buying. Researchers at the …