For many rural
communities, implementing healthy drink vending may seem a difficult and
daunting task. Rural communities face specific economic and logistic challenges
that make dealing with vending assessment, contracts, and delivery particularly
complicated.
Reach
for More, a new guide from CA4Health and ChangeLab Solutions,
targets rural communities interested in healthy beverage vending; it equips
community members in rural areas with the tools necessary to review and revise
their drink vending agreements. It also provides examples from other
communities, legal and policy issues to consider, and surveys and checklists to
use with community residents.
The MFMA 2014 Fall Statewide Videoconference is Nov 6 12:30 4pm at nine different locations throughout Minnesota. Click here for details.
The afternoon is all about food safety and food licensing:
- Crash course on the new 2014 safe food sampling at farmers' markets law, as well as a demo using 'germ glo' to highlight germs on unwashed hands and produce.
- Explanantion of the current structure of food licensing in Minnesota.
- Q & A with a panel of MDA and MDH personnel on different food licensing scenarios at farmers' markets.
- Win prizes taking our food licensing quiz!
- Network with your neighboring farmers' market vendors and managers at each location
Healthy schools provide welcoming, safe and healthy places to learn and grow. They recognize the role that health and wellness play in building a foundation for student success and closing the achievement gap. A healthy school allows all students to feel supported, engaged and empowered to make choices that support their well-being and school success. Minnesota's new Safe and Supportive Schools Act sets new expectations for healthy schools. The 2014 Healthy Schools Conference: Take Action for Kids will feature evidence-based policies and practices that allow students and staff to learn and work in a healthy school environment. Click here to register.
Studies have linked
sugary drink consumption to rising obesity rates and the development of chronic
diseases, and many communities are now trying to combat these alarming and
dangerous trends.
One emerging strategy is to encourage people to drink water instead of sugary
drinks. To make water more affordable and appealing, localities can remove the
sales tax on bottled water; this is a financial policy that can complement
other efforts by state and local governments to promote drinking water.
ChangeLab Solutions has developed the Every Drop Counts fact
sheet to provide jurisdictions and policymakers with information
about sales tax policies and potential exemptions for bottled water. Use this
resource to learn how removing the sales tax on bottled water can encourage
water consumption in your community.
Now
available in print!
Schools and child care providers participating in the USDA Child
Nutrition programs may request free copies at: http://tn.ntis.gov/
Discover
MyPlate: Nutrition Education for Kindergarten includes:
- Teacher's Guide (with 6 kindergarten lessons)
- Emergent Readers (mini books for students & and a teacher's
big book)
- Reach for the Sky Original Song
- 40 Food Cards
- Look and Cook Recipes*
- Student Workbook with 19 Activity Sheets*
- The Five Food Groups Poster
- Parent Handouts*
*25 copies of all
student and parent materials are included in the kit. Contact teamnutrition@fns.usda.gov if
you have questions about ordering.
Available separately is
the Discover
MyPlate: Curriculum Training for Teachers.
The TAP is a competitive
grant opportunity for local communities and regional agencies to fund projects
for pedestrian and bicycle facilities, historic preservation, Safe Routes to
School and more. Minnesota will be soliciting projects for approximately
$7.5 million in available grant funding across the state.
Interested
in applying for a grant? Greater Minnesota applicants must submit a letter of
intent describing the key components of their project by Oct 31.
Greater Minnesota applicants click here.
Twin
Cities Metro Area applicants, the Met Council has opened their TAP
solicitation.Metro applicants click here.
Safe Routes to School projects can be funded through TAP, but
use a separate state-funded Safe Routes to School solicitation for FY15 to
apply (you can apply to both). Click here for details.
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