WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today joined the U.S. Department of Education along with education, parent, and school meal partner organizations to host a virtual pep rally to celebrate the back-to-school season and thank the champions that educate and nourish our nation’s school children. The pep rally highlighted key steps the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to support school meals and nutrition as a key educational tool that kids need to be successful in the classroom.
“Healthy school meals are an essential part of the educational environment and fuel children to learn, grow and thrive,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA is fully committed to setting kids up for success and this rally gives us the opportunity to come together and encourage one another to raise the bar for school meals in this new school year and beyond. We’re grateful to our partners at the Department of Education, along with all the schools, districts, states, and industry who care so much about the connection between healthy meals and our children’s futures, and we’re excited to continue to work together to make this back-to-school season a success.
“As someone who’s been a teacher and a school principal, I’ve seen how hard our school nutrition professionals work every day – and I’ve seen the incredible difference it makes when a student comes to class after a healthy meal, energized, with a smile on their face, ready to learn,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, “This rally is a reminder: school is not just a place where students go to learn reading and math. At its best, a school is a hub of the community, and one of the first places that a student and their family can get their most basic needs met.”
Earlier this year, USDA announced updated nutrition standards, which include changes that provide schools more options to successfully plan and prepare healthy meals. K-12 schools serve nutritious meals to about 30 million children every school day and these meals are an important source of nutrition for many children.
What’s New: Tastier, Healthier Options for Schools
Beginning this school year, schools have more options to:
- Serve protein-rich breakfast foods such as yogurt, tofu, eggs, nuts and seeds, which can help them offer less sugary foods, while also supporting vegetarian diets and other food preferences.
- Buy local foods. Schools can require unprocessed agricultural products to be locally grown, raised or caught when making purchases for school meal programs. More information about these new options is available on the Procuring Local Foods webpage.
Learn about how some school districts are already cutting down on added sugars and bringing more local foods into the cafeteria, with support from USDA:
Regional School Unit (RSU) #89, Maine
“We are no longer offering breakfast bars that had so much sugar in them. Our lunches feature either USDA meats or meats from our local butcher. We also use vegetables, eggs, potatoes, and fresh sausages and bacon from local farms. We are constantly trying to reduce sugar and sodium in all our foods and use more local foods.” – Denise Tapley Proctor, food service director
Visit this video blog to learn more about RSU #89’s strategies for improving their school meals.
Thornton Fractional High School District (HSD) #215, Illinois
“We have started to revamp our breakfast menu by removing sugary cereal items and adding more protein breakfast items. We have added yogurt parfaits, overnight oats, egg bites and boiled eggs to our breakfast charcuterie.” – Phylicia Burford, director of food services
Visit this video blog to learn more about Thornton Fractional HSD #215’s strategies for improving their school meals.
Both RSU #89 and Thornton HSD #215 received USDA Healthy Meals Incentives grants to improve their school meal operations — part of the largest targeted investment USDA has ever made for school meal programs in small and- rural communities — and have been recognized for their progress. USDA, in partnership with Action for Healthy Kids, also provides grants, technical assistance and shares innovative ideas and practices through the $100 million initiative. To learn more about other award-winning school districts, please visit the HMI Awardee Spotlight webpage.
Healthy School Meals for All
Advancing a pathway to free healthy school meals for all is a priority set forth in the Biden-Harris Administration’s White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.
Eight states have taken permanent actions to provide healthy school meals at no cost to all their students: California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Vermont.
Meanwhile, in other states, many schools in high-need areas provide free meals to all their students through the Community Eligibility Provision, commonly known as CEP. Last year, USDA gave an estimated 3,000 more school districts the option to serve breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost, by expanding the availability of CEP.
Next Steps in Strengthening School Meals
School meals will also be strengthened in upcoming years through gradual reductions to added sugars and sodium. For information about how these updates will be implemented, see this video:
Support for Healthy Kids
USDA is committed to helping kids lead healthy lives. The Department has taken several actions to bolster the programs that provide critical nutrition to infants and children.
Through a variety of programs and initiatives, USDA has provided nearly $13.7 billion in financial support to schools across the country since January 2021. Some investments that USDA has made in school meals this year include:
- Awarding a record-breaking $14.3 million in Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants to 154 projects in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. These investments will help 1.9 million children eat more tasty, nutritious foods in school, while supporting farmers and producers in their local and regional communities.
- Awarding nearly $16.5 million in Healthy Meals Incentives grants to spark innovation in the school meals marketplace by incentivizing collaboration between schools, the food industry and other stakeholders. Learn about the grant recipients.
- Providing $10 million in grants for schools to invest in new food service equipment that will enable them to continue serving nutritious meals.
- Opened applications to award a $600,000 cooperative agreement for an organization to provide trainings that will improve food safety knowledge and communications for school nutrition professionals.
Additional Resources
- Infographic – The Biden-Harris Administration Supports Healthy Kids
- Webpage – Back to School Toolkit
- Webpage – Updates to the School Nutrition Standards
- Webpage – Healthy Meals Incentives
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
Click here to learn more and to register and download a free Crunch toolkit!
How about adopting a 1,500-pound dairy cow for your cafeteria or classroom mascot? Don’t worry about finding a pen big enough to hold her. The photos and stories we’ll send you about her life on the farm will make her come alive for your students! The Discover Dairy “Adopt a Cow” program is an exciting, year-long experience for your cafeteria or classroom.
Throughout the program, you’ll get an inside look at dairy farming and be paired with a calf from a working dairy farm in Oregon. You’ll find out what her name is, when her birthday is, where she lives, and how the farmer takes care of her. You’ll also receive progress updates, photos of the cow, live chats from the farm, activity sheets for your students, suggested lessons that follow Common CORE standards, and even opportunities to write letters to your calf! All updates are easily accessible via an online portal and app for Apple and Android.
Enroll in the free program this school year before September 15 and join the moo-vement that has impacted 1+ million students across the globe! Visit www.discoverdairy.com/adopt to learn more about the free program.
Hillsboro School District is seeking a Supervisor – Nutrition Services. The Nutrition Services Supervisor plays a key role in the implementation, management, and compliance of HSD’s school meal programs. This position will focus on menu and recipe development, employee training and retention, new recipe development and roll out. Required in this role is knowledge and understanding of USDA school meal service requirements, commercial kitchen equipment experience and knowledge.
Applications are due July 14. Click here to see a full job description and to apply online.
OREGON YOUTH AUTHORITY
Food Nutrition Coordinator – Nutrition Coordinator
SALEM – EQUITABLE BUILDING / CENTRAL OFFICE
Bring your Food Nutrition expertise to the Oregon Youth Authority!
The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) invites you to become a key member of our Facility Services team as the Food Nutrition Coordinator. In this important role, you will serve as the principal advisor for our food service programs, ensuring the effective management and expansion of food purchasing initiatives. Your responsibilities will include overseeing the food spot market purchase program, pursuing bulk purchasing opportunities, and implementing other cost-saving measures to control food service expenditures. As the Food Nutrition Coordinator, you will monitor institutional food service spending, provide valuable input for budget preparation, and keep your superiors informed about financial issues and opportunities. Additionally, you will ensure compliance with menu certification requirements as outlined in the operations manual and state regulations. You will also offer strategic recommendations to the Assistant Director of Facilities and Business Services for program improvements and operational efficiencies in food services.
In this role, you will administer the OYA Food Service Program, providing statewide guidance to facility administrators and Kitchen Supervisors. You will develop master menus, recipes, and product specifications that meet the standards for School Breakfast, School Lunch, and Afterschool Snack Programs. Supporting facility food service managers, you will help implement new recipes, customize menus, and ensure compliance with School Nutrition Programs. You will manage the nutrition and food service software, PrimeroEdge, for inventory control, purchasing, production, menu planning, and nutritional analysis. Your expertise will be essential in advising the Facility Administration and Maintenance Manager on food, equipment, and supply needs, ensuring efficient procurement practices, and maintaining state price agreements and interagency contracts. You will also play a crucial role in coaching and training new facility food service managers, improving distribution logistics, developing partnerships with outside agencies, and enhancing safety and sanitation procedures in food service areas.
Join us in making a positive impact on the lives of the youth in our care by providing nutritious and delicious meals that support their growth and well-being.
For a full description of duties and responsibilities, please click here. Job is opened until filled, with first screenings taking place July 3.
School Food Service Coordinator Needed!
Are you tired of the late nights and weekends that come with traditional food service jobs? Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can make a difference in the lives of children while
enjoying a healthier work-life balance? Look no further!
Why Choose School Food Service?
1. Family-Friendly Hours: Say goodbye to working nights and weekends! As a school food service coordinator, you’ll typically work during school hours, allowing you to spend quality time with your loved ones in the evenings and on weekends.
2. Generous Benefits: We believe in taking care of our team members. Enjoy competitive pay, health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other valuable benefits that ensure your well- being and financial security.
3. Positive Work Environment: Unlike many traditional food service establishments, our school food service teams foster a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. Join a community of dedicated professionals who are passionate about providing nutritious meals and creating a positive dining experience for students.
4. Impactful Work: Every day, you’ll have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children by promoting healthy eating habits and ensuring access to nutritious meals. Your work directly contributes to the well-being and academic success of students.
5. Professional Growth: We’re committed to helping you succeed in your career. Benefit from ongoing training and development opportunities to enhance your skills.
If you’re ready to leave behind the long hours, stressful environments, and lack of benefits associated with traditional food service jobs, consider joining Nestucca Valley School Distict’s team as a school food service coordinator. Make a positive impact on your community while enjoying a fulfilling career with ample benefits and a supportive work environment.
To apply or learn more, visit https://phl.applitrack.com/nwresd/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Nestucca+Valley+School+District
We’re thrilled to be supporting a values-aligned school meals for all policy concept for the 2025 legislative session. We’re hoping to hear from the folks that will be most impacted by this program: child nutrition professionals, students, and families!
We’d like to hear what is most important to you as we craft this policy!
Please sign up for one of the four (4) listening sessions using the button below – and feel free to share this with anyone else you think might be interested!
Listening sessions will be held virtually.
- Tuesday, May 21, 2:00-3:30 pm
- Thursday, May 23, 2:00-3:30 pm
- Monday, June 3, 8:00-9:30 pm
- Thursday, June 13, 8:00-9:30 pm
Scappoose School District has reposted an immediate opening for the position of Nutrition Services Supervisor.
Position responsibilities include:
· Plan and analyzes menus for all schools in the district to ensure that USDA Meal pattern and nutritional requirements are met
· Enforce federal and state regulations regarding nutritional standards, reports and records
· Prepare and maintain all records for required audits and reviews
· Analyze work methods in a school kitchen setting to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness
· Prepare staff development trainings for Food Service employees
· Maintain an efficient food service operation and a high quality food service staff by recruiting, selecting, training, scheduling, supervising, and evaluation all food service personnel
· Ensure that established sanitation and safety standards are maintained
Position is open until filled. Click here for full job description and to apply online.
JG Neil Oregon is in search of candidates for a full time K-12 sales professional. JG Neil is a
family owned business, since 1973.
A background in Child Nutrition and institutional food will be given preference. Successful
candidates will be proficient in verbal and written communication, creative food preparation and
customer care. Previous experience in sales is desirable but not required. Preference will be
given to applicants experienced working in the Oregon market. Must live in Oregon, or
Vancouver area.
This position offers a comprehensive benefit package, which includes car, and phone
allowance.
Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to travel during the work week.
Compensation for this salaried position will be determined based on experience.
If you have any questions, please contact Suzann Kayser, skayser@jgneil.com, (503) 621-
6432.
Please join the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) in a virtual meeting about the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) food benefits program for children. Oregon has applied to offer this new program in Summer 2024, pending approval from the USDA Food Nutrition Services and the Oregon State Legislature.
Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024
Time: 3 to 4 p.m., Pacific Time
Click here to register now
Summer EBT helps close the summer hunger gap when children are on summer break and lose access to healthy meals at school. It will provide $40 per summer month, per child, to families with eligible school-age children. Families will use an EBT card to buy groceries at authorized retailers. FNS estimates that up to 294,000 school-age children in Oregon may be eligible. Summer EBT became a new, permanent program through the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
During the webinar there will be an informational presentation about Summer EBT and how it is proposed to work in Oregon, along with time for questions and answers from a panel of ODE and ODHS staff. We hope you will join us to learn more and begin discussing how we can partner around this important opportunity to reduce food insecurity for children during the summer.
We want everyone to feel welcome and safe in this virtual meeting. We will provide free support for you to fully participate, including:
American Sign Language and Live Captioning. If you need other supports or languages, please call (503) 945-5600 or email Communications.DHS@odhsoha.oregon.gov. Please submit your request by Monday, March 11, 2024.
To learn more about the new Summer EBT program, go to www.fns.usda.gov/sebt.