Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)
- Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team
- Other Updates and Information
Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Serving Up USDA Foods Photo Contest Winners
Thank you to everyone who participated in the fourth annual USDA Foods Photo Contest "Serving Up USDA Foods." While this announcement is slightly delayed due to the pandemic leading to so many changes for school meals, USDA does want to recognize the hard work our school nutrition partners do to incorporate USDA Foods into school meals and highlight the photo contest winners. USDA received over 250 photos from 38 states featuring creative uses of direct-delivered USDA Foods proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy. School districts are doing an amazing job serving up USDA Foods, and it was very difficult to choose a winner for each category.
The 2020 Serving Up USDA Foods Photo Contest Winners included:
- Gold Meal Award: East Hampton Public Schools (Connecticut)
- Great Grains Award: Mequon-Thiensville School District (Wisconsin)
- Protein Power Award: Cranston Public Schools (Rhode Island)
- Say Cheese Award: East Syracuse Minoa Central School District (New York)
- Breakfast Award: Washoe County School District (Nevada)
Congratulations to Mequon-Thiensville School District!
Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team
Around the World in 80 Trays
Although traveling is limited right now, the School Nutrition Team (SNT) hopes you can use your imagination and join us on a culinary adventure into your cafeteria! The second annual Around the World in 80 Trays event aims to increase international flavors in USDA School Meals Programs to celebrate the diverse cultures of Wisconsin students.
Help the SNT reach our goal of 80 SFAs participating in Around the World in 80 Trays. Take the pledge and use the week of January 18-22, 2021, to introduce new flavors, create culturally inspired dishes, explore the tantalizing world of herbs and spices and, most importantly, connect with your students. Visit the National School Lunch Program webpage for event resources and the International Meals section of the menu planning webpage for menu ideas and inspiration. Be sure to document the event (pictures, video, sound clips) and send them to DPIFNS@dpi.wi.gov so we can share your success on social media!
Educational and Enrichment Activities for the Afterschool Snack Program
We’re sharing more easy-to-access Educational and Enrichment Activities you can share directly with students to go along with their afterschool snack. Most of these activities work for in-person students or for virtual, at-home learners. There are a variety of activities for different ages. You can share the links with families, or print out the activity sheets and slide into a snack sack, or play the videos during snack time, as you wish. We hope this is helpful to those of you providing afterschool snack!
The Sweet Sugarbeet Video (grades 9-12)
Potato Facts and Potato Images (grades 4-8)
Corn coloring page (grades 6-12)
USDA Foods Meeting - Procurement, Wednesday, December 2, 2:00-3:00 PM
Interested in learning about procurement and requirements for the School Nutrition Program? Need a refresher on best practices? Please join us for this training.
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
2:00-3:00 PM (1 hour)
call +1 608-620-9781 CST; Conference ID: 731 693 892#
Other Updates and Information
New Resources from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention: Increasing Access to Drinking Water in Schools – New Professional Development Microlearning Modules Available
Drinking water provides a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages, improves cognitive function, including memory and attention, helps children maintain a healthy weight status, reduces risk for some chronic diseases, such as type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and helps prevent dental cavities, if fluoridated. Yet 1 in 5 children and adolescents do not drink any plain water during the day, and about half of school-aged children are under hydrated.
Schools can help kids stay hydrated by addressing water access through promotion campaigns, local school wellness policies, needs assessments, parent and student engagement, and community partnerships. CDC Healthy Schools has developed a series of professional development microlearning modules, with each video lasting less than 5 minutes, for school administrators, teachers, wellness coordinators, and school health committees and teams to learn more about the steps to take and resources available to help schools:
- Ensure water is safe.
- Make clean, free drinking water easily available in multiple places at school.
- Meet free drinking water requirements in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
- Promote water as an ideal beverage choice.
Watch the modules today and access other valuable resources focused on increasing water access:
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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.
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