2005-06 School Year

Articles in the November Issue

From Sandra's Desk:

Satchel Paige said "Don't look back; something might be gaining on you!" I'm sure folks involved with child nutrition programs these days feel that way with the changes that are being implemented.

Several training sessions on the various topics have been prepared or presented. The HACCP training has begun and will have more sessions coming. If you haven't registered yet,I urge you to do so soon. One national seminar on wellness policies has been presented and another is coming in November. Child Care training will be offered in November. Information has been provided from a variety of sources. Keep working at it a piece at a time and pretty soon that mountain will be moved.

Another challenge for food service personnel is planning meals that meet all the nutriiton standards. We have contracted with 3 additional people (for a total of four) to conduct the nutrient analyses so you will have more up-to-date information and can use that to plan your menus.

As we enter the Thanksgiving holiday season we can reflect on the many good things we have - that sometimes may not seem so good until put into the persepctive of the effects of the recent national, even worldwide, events. A billboard in Pierre says "If you think you're having a bad day, just try missing one!" My house needs to be cleaned...at least I have a house! My car is old...but it still runs! Sometimes I don't like my job...but I still have one! The old song says "Count your blessing one by one..." Folks that care for children through providing day care, meals, and the various aspects of education are among the blessings we need to count in our state and across the nation. Thank you for all you do.

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Money for Schools from Mini-grants

Looking for money for nutrition education and physical activity projects at your school? Team Nutrition and Coordinated School Health have teamed up this year to award $1000.00 mini-grants to schools and child care sites across South Dakota. Up to ten childcare sites may be awarded the minigrants out of the 20 winning applications from schools and childcare sites. In addition, after school programs are encouraged to apply.

Applications as well as additional information will be available on November 1, 2005 from the Department of Education website at http://doe.sd.gov/oess/cans/index.asp. The deadline for applications will be December 1, 2005 and schools will be notified January 15, 2006 if they have been awarded a mini-grant. Winners will have from January 15, 2006 until May 31, 2006 to complete nutrition and physical activities described in the grant.

Examples of projects and activities from last year’s minigrant winners include gardening projects, nutrition education projects in classrooms, fun runs, nutrition festivals, and nutrition education for school staff. For more information, please contact Child and Adult Nutrition Services at 605-773-3413.

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Program Reviews for National School Lunch

Every five years 20% of the schools/agencies which participate in the National School Lunch program that are administered by the Child and Adult Nutrition Services (CANS) office, are eligible for a program review, commonly known as the CRE (Coordinated Review Effort). A memo dated September 23, 2005, was sent to all the schools/agencies that are in this year’s review cycle. The program review will also look at each of the other child nutrition programs that the school food authority (SFA) participates in, such as school breakfast, special milk, and snack after school.

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) completes most of the onsite reviews. The review date will be set up in advance with a DPS inspector from your region. Most of the records to be reviewed will be for the 2005-2006 program year. The inspector(s) will observe the meal service(s) and review records for the determined month of review. The records to be reviewed were listed in the September 23rd memo.

If you have not had the opportunity to go through the CRE review process in prior years, you are invited to request a video titled, “Preparing for the CRE”, please contact Marlyce Micklos at 605-773-3610.

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Local Wellness Policy Workshop
Ramkota, Pierre, SD
November 10, 2005

Get a jump start on the new USDA Local Wellness Policy requirement! Recruit a team to attend a high quality workshop which will provide the training, information and resources necessary to develop and implement a local wellness policy. Dayle Hayes, an award wining author and educator will lead the workshop. Her creativity and common sense have made her a sought after speaker across the county.

The training will provide an overview of the SD Model Wellness Policy which was recently approved by the State Board of Education. The workshop will also include time for school district teams to develop an action plan for policy development and implementation for their district.

School Districts are invited to bring 5 team members. At least one team member must be an administrator. Those districts with a full 5 member team registered will receive first priority to attend this training event. A minimum of 3 team members is required to be eligible to attend the training.

Team members must include one administrator and four other members. Consider including food service, teacher, student, school board member, community member, parent, nurse, dietitian, medical professional or local business representative. Registration is limited to one team per school district.

There is no cost for registration. Travel expenses including mileage, meals and lodging will be reimbursed by the Department of Education. The workshop is sponsored by Coordinated School Health and Child and Adult Nutrition Services.

There will be two workshop options to choose from on Thursday, November 10, 2005:
1. Morning Session: 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
2. Afternoon Session: 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm

A registration form is available online at http://doe.sd.gov/oess/cans/index.asp. Registration deadline is November 4th.

If you have any questions, please call Child and Adult Nutrition Services at 605-773-3413.

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  Preparing for the SMI review

The USDA School Meals Initiative (SMI) for Healthy Children underscores our national responsibility to provide healthy school meals that are consistent with the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Every five years, Districts are reviewed for compliance in meeting Federal and State SMI standards for calories, percent of calories from fat, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, cholesterol, sodium, and dietary fiber.

Food Service Directors will need to provide reviewers basic information to complete a nutrient analysis. If the school does not plan meals and complete their own analysis using one of the USDA approved software systems, the State Agency must analyze the menus.

Information is needed for a school week. The school week must be at least 3 consecutive days, and no more than 7 consecutive days. The inspector will call the school to schedule the review and will tell you which week in the review month and which sites that you will need to provide information for. Provide readable copies only as this information will not be returned to you.

Traditional or Enhanced Food-based Menu Planners must provide:

1. School lunch menus for the week specified.
2. Production records for the specified week’s lunch menus – (including age/grade groups, portion sizes for all menu items and condiments offered as part of the reimbursable meal)
3. Documentation of salad bar items if a daily food bar or condiment bar is offered. Refer to numbered memo NSLP 76.
4. Copies of standardized recipes for the period of analysis with accurate weights and measures of ingredients as well as serving sizes and yields.
5. Nutrition facts labels for all items used and/or manufacturer’s specifications/information of processed foods served during the specified week’s menus.
6. Child Nutrition (CN) labels for all processed food items used during the week of analysis.
7. Completed Menu Analysis Agency Information Form and the Food Preparation Methods Survey regarding agency information, food preparation methods and types of foods used.

Nutrient Standard Menu Planners must provide:

1. Nutrient analysis of the planned specified week of menus for both lunch and breakfast.
2. Lunch and breakfast menus for the week specified with supporting recipes and ingredients.
3. Dates meal substitutions were made if applicable.
4. Production records for the specified week’s lunch and breakfast menus (including age/grade groups, portion sizes, for all menu items and condiments offered as part of the reimbursable meal).
5. Documentation of salad bar items if a daily food bar or condiment bar is offered. Refer to numbered memo NSLP 76.
6. Copies of standardized recipes for the period of analysis with accurate weights and measures of ingredients as well as serving sizes and yields.
7. Nutrition facts labels for all items used and/or manufacturer’s specifications/information of processed foods served during the specified week’s menus.
8. Completed Menu Analysis Agency Information Form and the Food Preparation Methods Survey regarding agency information, food preparation methods and types of foods used.

Contact Jean Schuurmans, Child Nutrition Program Specialist, at 773-6026 or e-mail jean.schuurmans@state.sd.us regarding any questions you might have concerning the menu analysis.

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Building for the Future
with the CACFP
Upcoming Training Events –

A Mark your calendars now for November 15, 2005. “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.

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Kids in the Kitchen

German Apple Bread
Recipe from Meals to Please as printed in Physical Activities and Healthy Snacks for Young Children – Team Nutrition Iowa

1 pound loaf frozen whole wheat bread dough
3 medium apples sliced (about 4 cups)
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
chopped nuts and raisins (optional)

1. Let dough thaw and rise according to package instructions.
2. Spread in a greased 9” x 13” baking pan.
3. Cover dough with apples.
4. Sprinkle with remaining ingredients.
5. Bake according to bread dough directions.

Snack Idea (1-5 year olds):

2” x 3” piece of German Apple Bread and ½ cup pear slices.

 

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Kids on the Move

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

Arrange the children in a line shoulder to shoulder on one side of and facing an open area.

Each child is a truck. The object is to practice “slow” and “fast” movements. Talk about and demonstrate the difference between slow and fast. The trucks are waiting for the signal to move (when you say “start your engines”). The trucks must stay together walking around the area, until you say “faster”, then some trucks can mover quicker as long as all movement is under control. When you say “slow down, curve ahead” the trucks must walk around the outside of the area. Alternate slow and fast by using the cues “faster” and “slow down”. Start over occasionally so everyone is grouped again.

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