About 30% of food in the US food supply is wasted each year! That’s 133 billion pounds of food – a problem when considering hunger, limited financial resources, and environmental concerns. A study in Minnesota found that food waste was …
Obtaining and Processing Local Foods: A Food Service Director Perspective
While evidence about the benefits of eating local food continues to build, farm-to-school endeavors present challenges when considering unique needs of school foodservice operations. Many districts encounter a variety of barriers to incorporating locally grown food in school cafeteria menus. …
Healthy Fundraising Guidelines
Creating fundraising events that encourage health can be a challenge but there are many options for creative, innovative fundraisers that will encourage kids, parents, and the community to raise funds while having fun and promoting health and wellbeing. The suggestions …
Cougar Cupboard – Addressing Hunger through Community Support
School food service staff and teachers on the frontline in their communities are aware of the prevalence and impact that hunger causes among students. One food service director knew that the number of students eligible for free and reduced meals …
Food Service Personnel: On the Job and In the Know
School food service directors and staff are expected to nourish students with tasty nutritious foods that follow MyPlate guidelines with, frequently, limited financial resources. If you have ever spent time in your child’s school cafeteria at lunch time, you have …
Working with Schools to Address Special Dietary Needs
It can be difficult to control what foods your children have access to at school, but proactive measures can be taken to ensure your child’s dietary needs are still met. This barrier can be especially nerve-wracking when children have dietary …
BMIs in Your Child’s School: Why and what purpose do they serve?
You may have heard or read that your child’s school is assessing his or her health, collecting BMIs, or providing nutrition and physical activity education. What does all this mean to you as a parent or guardian, as well as …
Parent Advocates: How You Can Help to Get a Salad Bar in Your Child’s School
Did you know that a salad bar can offer all of the components of a USDA approved school lunch including, fruit, vegetable, whole grain, and meat/meat alternative? Just add low-fat milk and students have a well-balanced, healthful meal. Since 2010, …
Finding Common Ground Amid Changing Standards for School Food
As issues of childhood obesity continue to make the headlines, the USDA is proposing new regulations on schools as part of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010. One such regulation would restrict nutrition standards for competitive foods …
Top Ten Tips for Tackling School Food Reform
Are you a parent, faculty member, or other concerned citizen interested in making changes to your school’s food service program? You may be key to helping a program adopt healthier, more appealing standards, but before you jump in, here are …