Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter

Indiana Department of Education sent this bulletin at 02/05/2018 10:26 AM EST

2/5/2018

Dear Food Service Contact,

This email provides the most up-to-date news for schools about the Child Nutrition Programs from USDA and the State. If you are the food service contact for your school or corporation, it is your responsibility to relay important information provided to you about the Child Nutrition Programs to other staff members.

Food Buying Guide Mobile App

The USDA has just released the Food Buying Guide (FBG) Mobile App.
With the app you will be able to:

Search and locate yield information
Compare yield information to determine the foods that best meet your program needs
Create a favorites food list
Email and print search results, food comparisons, and listings of favorite foods
Access additional resources related to meal pattern requirements and menu planning for the Child Nutrition Programs

The FBG Mobile App is currently only available in the Apple App store. Stay tuned for the release in the Google Play Store.
Click here for more information about the FBG Mobile App and the FBG Interactive Website.

Update from the Food Distribution Program

The 2019 Pre-order survey is now open and available in the Food Distribution Program (green puzzle piece) for Recipient Agencies (RA) to enter their USDA Foods selections.
Program Year 2019 is open solely to complete the survey. No other action is needed.
If you should receive a message such as “You do not currently have a NSLP information sheet for Program Year 2019 in a Pending Approval or Approved status….," or that you are uncertified, you should ignore it for now.The National School Lunch Program will request this information later in 2018.
If you have questions or you are unable to complete the pre-order survey, contact Cheryl Moore at cmoore@doe.in.gov.

New USDA Memo

USDA recently released memo SP5-2018 - Providing Child Nutrition Program Benefits to Disaster Survivor Evacuees.
This memo provides a reminder overview of options available under current Program policy and regulation for connecting children, who have evacuated from areas subject to major disaster and emergency declarations, with Child Nutrition Program (CNP) benefits.
This memo does not contain new policy, instead it summarizes options available to school food authorities and institutions participating in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Click here to view the memo.

Reminder! 2018 School Food Service Employee of the Year

We are now accepting nominations through February 23, 2018, for the 2018 School Food Service Employee of the Year.
You have the opportunity to publicly recognize employees who make outstanding contributions to school food service.
For information on how to nominate a deserving school food service employee, click here.
For further information contact Suzette Hartmann at shartman@doe.in.gov or at 317-232-0868.

Save the Date! ISNA Spring Regionals

The Indiana School Nutrition Association (ISNA) is providing cashier’s training on reimbursable meals.
These two hour face-to-face regional trainings are designed to assist cashiers in understanding a lunch and a breakfast reimbursable meal under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. It provides short skill-building activities for cashiers to recognize reimbursable meals.
The Indiana Department of Education’s Field Specialists will be in attendance at each regional workshop.
Click here for dates and locations.

Missed a Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter? Click here to access previous newsletters!

Please do not reply directly to this email. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this email, please contact Allie Caito-Sipe at acaito@doe.in.gov, call (317)232-0849 or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20849. Or, contact Sarah Kenworthy at skenworthy@doe.in.gov, call (317)232-0857 or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20857.

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