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School Nutrition Bulletin 1920-05

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team

 

State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor recognizes National School Lunch Week (NSLW) through a proclamation which is posted on the School Nutrition Team’s National School Lunch Program webpage. The proclamation recognizes the significant contributions of School Nutrition Professionals and the importance of their work in serving Wisconsin students nutritious, well-balanced school meals. The proclamation, available in English and Spanish, may be used in conjunction with other activities to promote NSLW, such as tools posted on the School Nutrition Association’s webpage. The theme this year is School Lunch: What’s on Your Playlist?
 

Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 36-2019 Updated School Meal Guidance
This USDA Policy Memorandum was for information purposes that the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is issuing a suite of memoranda providing updated guidance. The guidance includes the following five policy memorandums.
 
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 37-2019 Questions and Answers on the Final Rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements
This memorandum provides questions and answers on the final rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements (83 FR 63775, December 12, 2018), which provides menu planning flexibilities in the Child Nutrition Programs. These flexibilities went into effect July 1, 2019, for the 2019-20 school year.
 
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 38-2019 Meal Requirements under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Questions and Answers for Program Operators
This memorandum includes questions and answers updated to incorporate changes codified by two final rules: (1) Child and Adult Care Food Program: Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (81 CFR 24348, published April 25, 2016) and (2) Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements (83 FR 63775, December 12, 2018). This document also includes updated crediting questions and a new resources section. Outdated references, citations, and questions were removed throughout the document, and minor edits were made to clarify content. More information about the specific changes to come…
 
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 39-2019 Clarification on the Milk and Water Requirements in the School Meal Programs
This updated memorandum clarifies regulations that water made available to students in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program shall not compete with the milk requirement. While water must be made available, schools must not directly or indirectly restrict the sale or marketing of fluid milk.
 
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 40-2019 Smoothies Offered in Child Nutrition Programs
This updated memorandum clarifies juice and yogurt allowances based on the childcare and preschool meal pattern updates and incorporates the meal pattern flexibilities related to flavored milk. This memorandum also changes the policy for commercially prepared smoothies. Commercially prepared smoothies can now contribute to the meat/meat alternate, fruit, vegetable, and milk components of the Federal meal requirements for all Child Nutrition Programs.
 
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 41-2019 Salad Bars in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program
This memorandum includes policy changes and general updates to outdated resources/website links and updated questions and answers. This memorandum provides State agencies with information on how salad bars can effectively improve the service of reimbursable meals and includes information on portion size, location of the salad bar, production records, and food safety.
 
USDA Policy Memorandum SP 42-2020 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: Allocation of Funds for Fiscal Year 2020 - Revised
According to this new guidance, Wisconsin will be receiving $3,583,508, or $18,616 less than originally planned.
 
USDA Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020 and Health Extenders Act of 2019 as relates to USDA Policy Memorandum SP 16-2019 School Breakfast Program: Substitution of Vegetables for Fruit
The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020 and Health Extenders Act of 2019, enacted on September 27, 2019, funds Federal agencies through November 21, 2019. This short-term continuing resolution extends the flexibility described in SP 16-2019 through November 21, 2019.
 
Now Available! eAuthentication and “Favorites” List on the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (FBG) Mobile App
The first of several updates has been released to the Food Buying Guide (FBG) Mobile App regarding the capability for users to log in to the App as a registered user with an eAuthentication account. Users can now login with an eAuthentication account to create and save a “Favorites” List on the Mobile App, and then access these items on other mobile devices, as well as the FBG Web Tool. A follow-up release will include the capability to access saved FBG Calculator shopping lists and Exhibit A Grains Tool products. Additional updates will include the ability to access any saved information on the FBG Web Tool, such as a completed Recipe Analysis Workbook or Product Formulation Statement on the Mobile App.
 
The FBG Mobile App is currently available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store (https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/food-buying-guide-mobile-app). Check to ensure you have the most current version of the App on your mobile devices!
 

Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team

 
Small Victories Workshop at Various Locations in October
Final week to register for Small Victories – Marketing with Diversity!
Register today! The featured topic is Marketing with Diversity. This interactive, hands-on workshop will review effective marketing strategies geared at increasing meal participation. Creative marketing strategies will be discussed to help raise awareness of the positive opportunities your meal program can provide to students. In addition, the workshop will include ideas and creative ways to market a variety of ethnic options on your menu for students. Please join us for a fun night of learning and networking.
 
There is no cost to attend this workshop. All classes are 3:45 to 7:00 PM. Dates and locations are:
  • Wednesday, October 16, Rhinelander High School, 665 Coolidge Avenue, Rhinelander, WI 54501
  • Monday, October 21, Fall River School District, 150 Bradley Street, Fall River, WI 53932
  • Tuesday, October 22, Lancaster High School, 806 E Elm Street, Fennimore, WI 53813
  • Wednesday, October 23, Menomonee Falls High School, N80 W14350 Titan Drive, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Lunchbox Webinar (formerly known as What’s New Webinars): Mark Your Calendars!
New! What’s New Webinars are transitioning to Lunchbox Webinar: unpacking a healthy mix of school nutrition topics. Join us Tuesday, October 15, from 2:00-3:00 PM for an in-depth dive into two school nutrition topics: Free and Reduced Price and Smart Snacks. We’ll give you something to snack on by providing GOALS credit and professional standards hours by participating. Join the webinar using the Lunchbox Webinar webpage.
 

Other Updates and Information

 
Chef Ann Foundation Looks to “Get Schools Cooking”!
The Chef Ann Foundation is a national nonprofit that helps schools ensure that every child has access to fresh, healthy food. Their newest “Get Schools Cooking” initiative is a three year assessment and strategic planning program, providing schools the operational knowledge to move from “heat and serve” to a “from scratch” cooking operational model.
 
The Chef Ann Foundation is now accepting applications for Get Schools Cooking through October 28. This is a great opportunity for school districts ready to make the transition to a scratch cook program. Apply today and learn more about this program here.
 
 
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This is a communication from the WI Department of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Team.
You can contact the School Nutrition Team at dpifns@dpi.wi.gov. To subscribe to schoolmealsnews, please send an email to dpifns@dpi.wi.gov.
dpi.wi.gov/school-nutrition #WISchoolMealsRock