USDA announces expansion of school meals training programs
March 10, 2015 |06:05 AM
Agriculture Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon today announced the USDA is going nationwide with its program to help school food service providers figure out how to provide the new healthier school meals that are required under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act.
Last fall, USDA conducted a pilot of its Team Up for School Nutrition Success Initiative in the Southeast. The program is tailored to schools and covers topics such as menu planning, financial management, procurement, meal presentation and appeal, as well as youth engagement tactics and strategies to reduce plate waste.
The program pairs school food service providers with mentors from authorities that have successfully implemented the healthier meal rules.
Concannon said in a call to reporters that the new national initiative is expected to reach 700 of the nation’s 14,000 school food service authorities, and that individual providers can apply for the program through the state agency in charge of school meals in each state.
The National Food Service Management Institute, which conducted the original Team Up pilot in Mississippi, is conducting a 3-, 6-, and 12-month followup with the pilot SFAs to assess progress made and needs for additional training.
The 2015 training sessions are on the following schedule:
Last fall, USDA conducted a pilot of its Team Up for School Nutrition Success Initiative in the Southeast. The program is tailored to schools and covers topics such as menu planning, financial management, procurement, meal presentation and appeal, as well as youth engagement tactics and strategies to reduce plate waste.
The program pairs school food service providers with mentors from authorities that have successfully implemented the healthier meal rules.
Concannon said in a call to reporters that the new national initiative is expected to reach 700 of the nation’s 14,000 school food service authorities, and that individual providers can apply for the program through the state agency in charge of school meals in each state.
The National Food Service Management Institute, which conducted the original Team Up pilot in Mississippi, is conducting a 3-, 6-, and 12-month followup with the pilot SFAs to assess progress made and needs for additional training.
The 2015 training sessions are on the following schedule:
- April – Southwest
- May – Northeast
- June – Western
- July – Midwest
- August – Mid-Atlantic
- September – Mountains Plains
