Happy Holidays to all.  Let’s be sure that our efforts so far this fall to walk and eat smaller portions don’t totally fall apart.  We can still participate – just be reasonable!

This year was to be reauthorization of the child nutrition programs at the national level.  This means the legislation is there to allow the programs – the legislature has to decide periodically whether or not to fund the programs.  This should have been done this fall; however, the legislature has passed a 6-month continuing resolution that allows the programs to continue to operate as is while legislation is drafted for the program.  One of the issues that will likely be a part of this is the proposal to eliminate the reduced-price meal category and move it to the free category. 

You have worked for years to provide meals that meet the meal pattern requirements with foods and the emphasis has changed so that we need to be more aware of fats and the different kinds of fats.  What have you been able to do lately to increase your knowledge of nutrition, what foods are lower fat and what menu combinations help reduce the fat?  What can we in CANS do to help you increase your nutrition knowledge – a class over the distance learning network, an internet class, a self-study class, a pre-conference class at workshop, articles in the bulletin?  Let either Jean or me know so we can help you find or we can provide resources.  Obesity across the nation is a problem and we must be sure that the meals we provide to the children are healthy.

“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” 

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