Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter

Indiana Department of Education sent this bulletin at 08/08/2018 03:44 PM EDT

08/08/2018

Dear Food Service Contact,

This email provides news for schools concerning 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.

Combined Calendar of Due Dates

We have a new Calendar of Due Dates!
This combines the dates for SNP Requirements and Food Distribution Programs.
Click here to access the calendar.

Rah, Rah, Radishes!

The 2018 Indiana Food Day item has been chosen. This year, the highlighted item is radishes!
Indiana Farm to School Network is celebrating its fifth year of Food Day! Because of this, the Food Day focus will be on five radish varieties: Black, Cherry Belle, Easter Egg, German Giant, and Watermelon.
Give radishes a chance! Thinly sliced or finely grated, a small dose of this spicy little vegetable adds big zip to salads and tacos.
Be rad and celebrate Food Day 2018! Food Day can be celebrated any day in October.
Find everything you need to create a great Food Day event here.
Wanting to grow radishes in your school gardens or classrooms? Request FREE seeds here.
- You can order all five radish varieties or select a few. There is no limit to the number of seeds you request.
- However, we have a finite amount of seeds and they will be mailed on a first-come first-serve basis.
The most important ingredient in Food Day is you! Join the movement!
Questions? Email Maggie Schabel at mschabel@doe.in.gov.

Free and Reduced Applications

Train All Free and Reduced Application Processors
- Individuals that process Free and Reduced Applications must annually receive training of the most current version of the USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals.
- While the manual will not be updated this school year, application processors are encouraged to re-review the guidelines to prepare for the new school year.
- To view the most current manual, click here.
*NEW* Our new Free and Reduced Frequently Asked Questions Fact Sheet answers over 40 of your most asked questions! To access this fact sheet, click here.
Questions? Contact your field specialist.

Smart Snacks Reminders

Don't forget that any foods or beverages sold during the school day, not part of a reimbursable meal, must comply with Smart Snacks standards.
- A school day is from midnight the night before the school day until 30 minutes after schools ends.
Make sure to regularly check your products and recipes in the Smart Snacks Calculator to ensure they are still complaint. All food and beverage products must have calculator print-off showing the items as allowable.
- Vendor paperwork cannot be used as proof that a product is compliant. The product must be plugged in to the calculator and print that compliance sheet.
Remember! Beverages count too! For more information about Smart Snacks and beverages, click here.
Don't forget that you have two fundraising exemptions every school year per school building that you are allowed to use. For more information on fundraisers, click here and here.
Entrees served as part of the reimbursable meal and then offered as a la care or as a snack, do have some exemptions. For more information on entrees as an a la carte or snack, click here.
Have a coffee bar in your school? Click here to find out more information on how to make it Smart Snacks compliant.
To access our Smart Snacks web page, click here.
Questions? Contact Ashley Heller at aheller@doe.in.gov.

Reimbursement Rates

Updated Reimbursement Rates for 2018-2019 are now available!
Find the new rates here.
*NEW* Find Special Milk Program Pricing here.
Questions? Contact SCNFinance@doe.in.gov.

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 Ashley Heller at aheller@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0544, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20544 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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