National School Lunch Week Reminder

October 11th to the 15th is the week designated to promote National School Lunch across the United States.  The theme this year is “Reach Your Peak with National School Lunch”.  The promotional booklet which was designed to help get the creative juices excited has been distributed to all SD National School Lunch schools and agencies.   The booklet includes activity sheets for students as well as suggested menus for the week, a sample press release, a sample letter to parents, and suggestions for incorporating the theme into various curriculum areas.  An outdoor themed trivia powerpoint presentation is available on request.  CANS has some extra bouncy rocks and compasses left to help with the outdoor theme.  Submit your name either by telephone, fax or e-mail to Marlyce for a drawing and receive some of these items free of charge to add to your week’s fun. 

CANS would like to hear how you celebrate NSLW.  Be sure to take pictures of your week’s events and send in any stories or photos that could be shared in a future bulletin.  Most of all have fun with your staff and students and toot the horn of school food service!

 


October Data Survey

On September 24th a letter titled “Survey of October Data” was mailed to all National School Lunch Program authorized representatives.  South Dakota Child and Adult Nutrition Services (CANS) continues to gather data each October which is a compilation of numbers for the month of October only.  The information from this survey is used for many purposes and is required by federal regulation.  The information is used for selecting sites to be visited during the school food authority’s review, determines site eligibility for the School Breakfast Program severe need option, Summer Food Service Program, and Daycare Home tier level.  It is also used for reporting prices paid by children in our state for breakfast and lunch in the annual report to the American School Food Service Association, for data in response to questions by Congress and USDA, and reporting site eligibility to the National Center for Education Statistics for the core summary data.  Several programs use the data including determination of e-rate and need for various title programs and grants.

The important date to remember is November 15th.  The survey must be returned by this date to assure the October claim for reimbursement will be processed.

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Are You A New Manager?

Each year we notice, almost like musical chairs, there are some school personnel that move around between schools and others who come in brand new.  Those first months can be pretty overwhelming when you soon realize your job responsibility includes a lot of paper work and reports and is more than just being sure all students are fed a proper meal.  If you have not recently attended certification institute sponsored by CANS in June or did not have the opportunity to enroll in the New Manager’s pre-conference class at Fall Conference, you will have another opportunity to get some training.  A one day class is being planned for presentation in Pierre this fall.  Be sure to call CANS to let us know you are interested in being notified about the upcoming class.

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Building for the Future with the CACFP

Upcoming Training Events – 

Mark your calendars now for October 19, 2004.  “Basic Training” will be provided in Pierre for new centers or for centers with new staff.  For more information please contact Melissa Halling at (605) 773-3566 or by email at melissa.halling@state.sd.us.

Kids in the Kitchen –

Three Bear’s Baked Porridge

From Physical Activities and Healthy Snacks for Young Children; Team Nutrition Iowa

  • 2 cups cooked oatmeal
  • 1½ cup diced apple
  • ½ cup chopped nuts
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • ½ tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased casserole dish.  Bake 20 minutes.  Serve warm with milk.

Snack Idea (1-5 year olds):

2/3 cup porridge and 1/2 cup canned peaches

Kids on the Move –

Hop, Jump, and Dance Like Betsy

From Physical Activities and Healthy Snacks for Young Children; Team Nutrition Iowa

Arrange children in a long line facing you.

Betsy is a frog in the book “Hop, Jump” (by Ellen S. Walsh, 1993, Harcourt, Brace & Co).  This activity copies Betsy’s movements, and allows the children to create movements of their own.  Betsy watches the other frogs hop and jump, but she wants to try other movements.  At first the other frogs say “no room for dancing”, but after watching her they try dancing and like it.  Then they say “no room for hopping and jumping”, but Betsy tells us there is room for everyone. 

Begin by jumping forward (jumping is with both feet at the same time).  Try short quick jumps, long jumps and jumps in the air.

Next try hopping (jumping on one foot at a time, several hops at a time).  Repeat on the other foot.

Betsy leaped (long running step) and did twisting and turning.  Show the children leaping and have them try.  Repeat several turns.

Betsy and the frogs began to dance combining jumps, hops, turns, leaps and other movements.  Expand by having everyone hop-jump while one person dances, reverse. 

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Oak Valley Farms – Processed Commodities

Oak Valley offers two processed turkey items; a deli style breast slab – P010A (approximately 5 – eight pound packages per case) and a smoked turkey picnic ham – P011A (4 – ten pound packages per case). These products will be available for November delivery.

The products are produced at the Oak Valley Farms facility in Watertown, SD. There is no “fee for service” charge to public schools for these products. For non-public schools the cost per case for these items is $31.60.

Supplies of both of these products are limited. 

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Online Produce Ordering – “TAP-IT” System

Produce orders may be placed via the internet using the Tap-It web site. Some of you are already placing orders in this manner. It is easy to use and we encourage you to take advantage of the system. The site also has estimated product prices. The web site for Tap-It is listed below.

www.tapit.dscp.dla.mil

A user manual can be printed from the site. To access Tap-It you will need a user ID and pin number. To receive this information you will need to contact one of the following:

Janet Haraldson – CANS   janet.haraldson@state.sd.us

Linda Hawkins – PBO Denver   linda.hawkins@dla.mil

When placing orders by Tap-It it is extremely important to use the product codes for your vendor. If, for example, your vendor is HRS you MUST use the code for their product; i.e.: for HRS, Apple Gold 113CT 40# has a code number of 14P25. You may want to create and save a “shopping cart” in Tap-It that has the codes specific to your vendor.

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Produce Final Buy Reports

The “DSO Final Buy Report – Customer” copy contains the actual pricing for the produce you receive. Disregard the prices on the vendor copy. The Final Buy Report is what will be deducted from your Group D entitlement dollars.

The final buy report must be signed and returned to the Denver Produce Buying Office (Denver PBO) after each delivery. This confirms delivery and receipt of the produce.                                                                       

Any adjustments made to a delivery needs to be marked on your “DSO Final Buy Report”. Fax signed copies of all final buy reports to the Denver PBO. You will receive corrected copies as required.  

Denver PBO fax numbers:  303-467-7703, 303-467-7729, or 303-467-7791    

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Notes From Denver Produce Buying Office

You should receive a DSO Final Buy Report for each order placed, if you do not receive this report, please contact the Denver PBO at 1-800-795-5802.

This report helps ensure your delivery is being made, will note any changes, and verifies what is being delivered. The report also assists you in tracking the dollars spent and deducted from your allocation. If you have not received this report the day prior to your requested delivery day please call the Denver PBO.

Should you have any questions, discrepancies, or problems regarding your produce orders and /or deliveries contact the Denver PBO. Do not call the vendor.

In TAPIT – Any item with a double ** in front of the description is not available.

All indications are that approximately 50% of the Florida citrus crop has been destroyed as a result of the hurricanes. There will be citrus available but prices will be higher. Competing areas like Texas will also raise prices as supply and demand drives the produce industry. The fall Florida vegetable crop had to be replanted in Southeast Florida. This will result in higher prices and possibly some supply gaps. 

Strawberries will be scarce until the end of September. Green Grapes have been placed on hold due to poor quality issues.

A good source for produce information is www.produceoasis.com

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Verification Process Nearing and Some Requirements are Changing

Be watching for a numbered memo coming soon which will provide specific guidance for verification reporting and recordkeeping requirements.  Beginning with this school year of 2005, school food authorities are going to be required to report their verification activity and results to the State Office of Child and Adult Nutrition Services (CANS).  Additionally, State agencies must report the SFA level data to the USDA Food and Nutrition Services.  Submission of this data on a SFA basis will enable State agencies and FNS to better understand certification errors and to improve oversight activities.  This will help ensure that free and reduced price subsidized meals are provided only to eligible children.

Be sure to refer to NSLP Memo #51 for instructions on how to count the number of applications an SFA has on file as of October 31st.  The SFA must choose to do either a focused verification or random verification method as described in Memo #51.  Each SFA submitted, in their annual agreement, the dates they would use to complete the required verification process.  The deadline to complete the process at the local level remains December 15th  for school year 2005.  CANS will be providing a specific form for SFAs to report the results of their verification information which will be due no later than March 1, 2005.

For further information on verification refer to the USDA Eligibility Guidance for School Meals, 1991, manual.

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Janelle Peterson Joins CANS staff

Hi!  My name is Janelle Peterson.  I am the newest education program specialist in the CANS office.  My main duty will be to provide technical assistance to you. I am currently training in Pierre, however, I will actually be working out of Huron.  I will work with a wide variety of programs so don’t be afraid to call and see if I can be of help to you. 

I have been in the food service business for over 20 years…..restaurant, hospital, long-term care, and I was involved with the school lunch program in the Artesian/Letcher (now reorganized as Sanborn Central) school district in the early 90’s.  I went back to college when I was 40 and graduated with a business degree in 2002.   Some of you may also recognize my name as I have been an instructor at Certification school for the last few years—usually teaching Track 5. 

I have three children—Adam, 23, who does construction work to support his farming habit.  Ben, 18, is a senior at Huron high school. Ben also recently became a member of the 153rd battalion of the Army National Guard. Courtney, 16, is a junior at Huron high school. She stays busy working as a crew leader at Taco John’s.  I also have two cats which my daughter promises me she will take with her when she leaves home—however; since she also has college in front of her, I think they will more likely be permanent living companions with me!!

In my spare time I enjoy gardening, reading, and have recently developed an interest (although “addiction” may be a more appropriate word) in scrapbooking.   I now take all pictures with a “scrapbooking page in mind”!!  I know there are a few of you out there that can relate to this!

I look forward to working with you as we carry out the mission of providing healthy meals to the children of South Dakota.

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Team Nutrition and Certification Institute Coordinator

CANS has a new face working with TEAM nutrition and the Certification Institute.  Amy Richards has joined the CANS team as a Child Nutrition Program Specialist.  Amy recently graduated from South Dakota State University with a master’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition and also completed coursework and an internship necessary to become a registered dietitian.  She is scheduled to take the exam to become a registered dietitian in October.  Amy grew up on a ranch in Western South Dakota near Sturgis and graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman with a BS in business administration and a BA in art with an emphasis in fine art.  Questions related to nutrition, fad diets, special diets, food allergies, TEAM nutrition and Certification Institute may be directed to Amy at amy.richards@sdstate.sd.us and 773-4718.

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Increase Your Calorie Salary

A merchant might make more money by lowering prices and selling more products because the prices are lower. There is a price, however, at which it is no longer affordable to sell for less. The same is true for trying to control our weight by eating fewer and fewer calories.

Eating less food works -- up to a point. Eventually, however, it is difficult to consume adequate nutrients from the decreased amount of food. It is hard to maintain a diet where we continually feel hungry. And, finally, our bodies, sensing they are being starved, become more efficient in using fewer calories. Weight loss at that point actually may be less than on a higher-calorie diet!

What if we could eat more, and still achieve or maintain a desirable weight?

Adding more activity to our lifestyles is like getting a free loan every day. It increases our "calorie salary" so we can consume more calories.

USE YOUR FEET MORE SO YOU CAN EAT MORE!

With rising percentages of overweight adults and youth, energy intake and expenditure is often out of balance. While portion sizes may be larger than in the past, activity levels tend to be lower. Eating fewer calories is only half the answer; expending more calories is the other half.

More of us now work in sedentary settings than in the past. Labor-saving technologies reduce calorie expenditure in many aspects of our lives. Not only can we sit on the sofa and watch TV for entertainment, we don't even have to get up to change the channel!

"More than 60% of American adults do not get the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity a day and 25% of American adults aren't physically active at all," according to America on the Move http://www.americaonthemove.org.

The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) studies successful weight control strategies of people 18 and older who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for at least one year. The average person listed with NWCR expends about 400 calories a day in physical exercise, with walking the most frequently cited activity.

"The major barriers most people face when trying to increase physical activity are time, access to convenient facilities, and safe environments in which to be active," according to Healthy People 2010, a set of health goals for America to achieve over the first decade of the new century. Physical activity is considered so important one of the goals

recommends: Improve health, fitness, and quality of life through daily physical activity. http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/Volume2/22Physical.htm

As a general guideline, a person will burn about 100 calories walking a mile. Expending just an additional 100 calories per day will help a person lose about 10 pounds a year. Or, allow a person to eat 100 more calories per day without gaining weight.

BUILD WALKING INTO EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES

To pursue a more active lifestyle, we need look no farther than our own two feet. People often feel they have to carve out an extra half hour to hour daily to start a "walking program." Wrong! Just start walking. Walking may even give you added energy and help you sleep better so you are able to walk more. Here are some steps to get you started.

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        "A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step." ~Lao Tzu

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1. KEEP TRACK TO STAY ON TRACK

Investing in a pedometer is a good way to begin and stay motivated with walking.

Health experts recommend walking around 10,000 steps/day (about 5 miles) on most days for cardiovascular health. More steps may be needed for weight loss. Some pedometers can be adjusted to calculate miles, speed and approximate calories burned, but simply monitoring the number of steps is enough and may be more accurate than some of the other measurements. Determine your current number of steps for a couple of days and gradually build up.

2. WALK RATHER THAN WATCH THE GRASS GROW

How many times do we find ourselves standing (or sitting) around watching something that doesn't need watching? Like a TV commercial we've seen a dozen times before. Or a microwave that is set for a couple of minutes or more. Try walking instead.

TIP: Rather than waiting and watching, take a quick walk up and down the stairs or to another area and back.

3. PACK IT IN!

Put on a backpack and walk for errands of one mile away or less. Walk to buy an item from a nearby shopping center or to pick up medications from the pharmacy.

TIPS:

  • Remove a backpack in stores. It's easy to knock into something. And many stores follow a version of the china shop
    verse: Lovely to look at, Delightful to hold, But if you break it, Consider it SOLD!
     

  • Some features that make a backpack more comfortable include:

    • padded back to protect against hard objects in pack,

    • padded, adjustable shoulder straps,

    • water bottle section,

    • waistbelt to hold pack comfortably in place.
       

  • As an alternative to a backpack, carry a lightweight handbag with a wide shoulder strap. Shoulder straps that can be worn diagonally across your body are especially comfortable when walking.

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        "Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time." ~Steven Wright

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4. WALK BETWEEN LOADS OF LAUNDRY

There's always time to work, but often not time to walk. Take short walks between work activities rather than wait until you've finished all your tasks. For example, put in a load of laundry and walk around the block a few times. Repeat until your laundry is done.

5. WALK YOUR TALK

Meet for a walk with a coworker to discuss a project or problem.

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        "All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking." ~Friedrich Nietzsche

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 6. ASK: WHEN IS A CAR NOT A CONVENIENCE?

Do you really need a rental car on your next vacation or business trip? Or can you use a combination of walking, public transportation and taxis?

Compared to the money/time spent paying for a car, gas, parking, picking up/returning the car and searching for parking, you may be ahead if you do without. Plus, you can enjoy more of the view if you're not busy reading road maps and watching road signs.

TIPS:

  • For longer distances, walk TO a location and take a taxi or public transportation back to your hotel.

  • Carry a cell phone and the phone numbers of a few taxi companies should you change your mind about walking or misjudge the distance.

  • Always check with someone about safe walking areas before setting out.

7. BECOME A "STAIR STEPPER"

Rather than purchase a stair stepper, create opportunities to use real stairs. Store some frequently used items up- or down-stairs. Your legs will get a workout every time you retrieve something. For starters, if you don't have room for many canned goods or bargain buys of paper towels in your kitchen, store them in your basement.

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        "A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time -- pills or stairs."

        ~Joan Welsh

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8. PARK AND WALK

Add steps to your day by parking as far as possible from your destination.

TIP:

  • Sometimes, using a more distant parking lot may even save money, such as at the airport.

9. MOVE WHILE MEDITATING

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical Center and author of "Wherever You Go, There You Are," recommends a walking meditation for people who wish to meditate but find it difficult to sit still. There are no "rules" as to pace, place, etc. Simply take each step as it comes and be fully present with it.

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        "Peace is every step."

        ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

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10. PACE WHEN LIFE GETS PRESSING

In his book "Stopping: How to be Still When You Have to Keep Going," David Kundtz, Ph.D., suggests pacing as helpful when feeling anxious or nervous. He recommends picking a safe course and then pacing back and forth or in a circle in your room, office, yard, park or anywhere.

Because your course is safe and predictable, it offers what Kundtz calls a "stillpoint." A stillpoint is a quick stop during the day during which one does nothing. It may be done many times a day and helps reduce stress.

11. WALK WHILE WAITING TO FLY

Buy the type of carry-on luggage that makes it easy to walk in the airport while waiting to catch planes. For example, use a backpack or rolling luggage. There are many new models of tote bags on wheels that are small enough to fit under most airplane seats.

12. WALK YOUR WISDOM

Julia Cameron, in "The Artist's Way at Work," suggests as a tool for getting in touch with yourself, to "walk your wisdom." Whether getting off the subway one stop early or heading out the door at lunch, a twenty-minute walk offers a time for reflection and getting in touch with yourself.

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        "All walking is discovery. On foot we take the time to see things whole."

        ~Hal Borland

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13. ASK: HOW CAN I WALK MORE AS I WORK MORE?

If you're working more hours a day, look for normal daytime activities where you can build in some walking -- for example:

  • Use the bathroom farthest from your office. Use a bathroom on a different floor at home. Do the same when you're at conferences and meetings.

  • Walk around in your office while on a phone conference.

  • Walk to someone's office rather than sending an e-mail.

14. THINK ENERGY MANAGEMENT VS. TIME MANAGEMENT

"Managing energy, not time, is the key to high performance and personal renewal," according to Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, in "The Power of Full Engagement."

Loehr and Schwartz stress the importance of balancing stress and recovery in managing energy in all facets of our lives. To sustain full engagement, they advise taking a recovery break every 90 to 120 minutes. Getting some type of physical activity daily is one of their recommended recovery and renewal strategies.

It is paradoxical, but to perform at the highest levels over time, it is necessary to take some time out. Stephen Covey in his book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" has a 7th habit of "Sharpen the Saw". He gives an example that can be applied to many activities. If you're sawing wood and don't sharpen the saw regularly, even though you work harder and harder, eventually you'll produce less wood.

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        I have two doctors, my left leg and my right. ~G. M. Trevelyan

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Food Reflections Newsletter, April 2004
Alice Henneman, MS, RD, Extension Educator
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County

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Upcoming Meetings, Training, And Events 

  • SDSFSA Executive Board Meeting
    • October 1, 2004, Pierre, SD
  • Provision 2 & 3 Training via DDN
    • October 7, 2004, 11:00 am – 12 noon CT
  • National School Lunch Week
    • October 11-15, 2004
  • Director’s Council Meeting
    • October 18, 2004, Huron, SD
  • Basic Training for new CACFP centers and staff
    • October 19, 2004, Pierre, SD
  • Child Care Food Program Roundtable 13th Annual Conference
    • October 25-27, 2004, San Diego, California
  • Child Nutrition Industry Conference (formerly Industry & Technology Conference)
    • January 16-18, 2005, Austin, Texas
  • American Commodity Distribution Association Conference
    • April 3-5, 2005, Kansas City, Missouri
  • Legislative Action Conference
    • March 13-16, 2005, Washington, DC
  • National School Breakfast Week
    • March 7-11, 2005
  • Child Nutrition Employee Week
    • May 2-6, 2005
  • SD School Food Service Certification Institute
    • June 2005, more specific date and location to be announced
  • School Nutrition Association Conference (formerly American School Food Service Association)
    • July 17-20, 2005, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Nutrition Education Conference
    • September 12-14, 2005, Washington, DC

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