Recipe Resources
There’s no denying that scratch cooking is making a comeback! Consider adding a couple signature scratch-made dishes to the menu for next year. Scratch cooking can save money and provide more flexibility in flavor than commercially prepared items. Check out these websites with recipe options designed specifically for school nutrition professionals.
Standardized recipes must be tested in the local kitchen to ensure accuracy based on the equipment available.
Sponsors with Multiple Grade Groupings in One Building: Meal Pattern Reminder
Every best effort must be made to meet the meal pattern of the child being served. Sites that offer overlapping grades, such as grades six through 12 must determine the best way to meet two different meal pattern requirements; one for students in grades six through eight and one for students in grades nine through 12. Menu planners must plan different menus for each grade grouping served in the building. Sponsors unsure how to meet this requirement or those that are a residential facility, should reach out to their assigned field specialist.
Alternate Production Record Templates
Sponsors that do not utilize the IDOE template must ensure the production record format used meets all USDA requirements. Production records provided by vendors and/or software companies must be checked to ensure compliance. Sponsors can send a copy of alternate production record formats to their field specialists for review prior to use.
DIG IN to School Breakfast
School Breakfast Week is coming Monday, March 6, through Friday, March 10. This year’s theme is “DIG IN to School Breakfast.” Sponsors that complete the School Breakfast Week Challenge form by Friday, February 17, will be entered into a randomized drawing to receive two rolls of “Launch your Day with Breakfast” stickers and 10 “Stronger with School Meals” buttons for staff, as well as additional swag from the American Dairy Association Indiana. Five schools will be chosen. One form must be completed for each building interested in a prize pack. Corporations with more than one building to be entered into the drawing must complete the form for each building separately.
To be entered, buildings must incorporate one special celebration idea during School Breakfast Week:
- Guest/celebrity server
- Guest/celebrity meal participant
- Nutrition education feature
- New item taste test
- Special menu item(s)
- Staff dress up day
- Other creative promotion
On break during School Breakfast Week? No problem! If celebrations are planned during an alternate week, enter the celebration dates on the form and, if chosen, prizes will be sent by that date.
Deadline to Submit Supply Chain Assistance (SCA) Attestation Statements Extended
Attestation statements can now be submitted through Friday, January 27. As a reminder, round two and three SCA funds are available for all sponsors, including those that declined funds in round one and those that received funds.
Funds may be used for the purchase of unprocessed and minimally processed domestic food, such as fresh fruit, milk, cheese, frozen vegetables, and ground meat. Please note, SCA funds cannot be used to pay for labor, supplies, or administrative expenses.
Next Steps:
-
February 2023 - Projected month funds will be disbursed. They will come via the same method claims are paid, with a comment denoting they are SCA Funds and the round number. Please share this with your business office: Deposit into 0800 Fund (school nutrition),CFDA #10.555, receipt code 4291
-
March 2023 - Any remaining funds will be calculated, and funds will be disbursed to sponsors that indicated they are interested in additional funds. Please share this with your business office: Deposit into 0800 Fund (school nutrition), CFDA #10.555, receipt code 4291
-
Saturday, September 30 - Deadline for IDOE to distribute funds. Please note, this is not the deadline by which sponsors have to spend their funds. There is no deadline for spending the funds, however, sponsors must agree to stay on the program while spending the funds.
Additional information is available via the documents linked below.
If you have any questions, please email scnfinance@doe.in.gov and include your sponsor number and SCA Funds in the subject line.
USDA Foods Annual Pre-order (Forecast) Survey Now Open
The annual pre-order (forecast) survey is now open through Friday, March 10, at 4 p.m. ET. The annual pre-order (forecast) survey must be completed in the FDP link in CNPweb. Once the survey closes, it cannot be reopened.
New for School Year 2023-2024
-
Annual Pre-order (Forecast) Survey Toolkit - Click here to access the toolkit, located in the blue alert box in the middle of the page. The toolkit includes a training webinar, USDA Foods material prices and list of available foods, worksheets, and more!
-
Changes to direct delivered item availability - Due to significant direct delivered cheese losses, IDOE will only offer direct delivered (Brown Box) cheeses in September, November, and January. This change is reflected on the annual pre-order survey.
-
New direct delivered items - New items include 100119 - Turkey Taco Filling, Cooked, Frozen and 110721 ‐ Sweet Potatoes, Crinkle Cut Fries, Frozen.
Virtual Culinary Skills for A+ Meals is back!
Join Chef Cathy Powers for virtual Culinary Skills for A+ Meals training from the comfort of your own kitchen! Throughout 2023, Cathy and team will lead cafeteria staff through specific skills for the topic of the week. The virtual training will take place from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. Training will feature live chef demonstrations, efficient techniques, and important nutritional insights.
Choose from 20 topics to enhance culinary skills and learn tips and tricks from the pros. Each class earns 1.25 training hours and includes great giveaways and plenty of time to ask questions! For more information and to register, click here. Contact Cathy Powers with questions.
February Webinars from IDOE
-
Smart Snacks Refresher - Great for food service staff as well as those who oversee fundraisers!
- Tuesday, February 7, at 2 p.m. ET.
- Register here.
-
Direct Certification Overview and Reminders - With specific time allowed for the explanation of Medicaid benefits!
- Thursday, February 23, at 2 p.m. ET.
- Register here.
January STAR Webinar: Presented by the Institute of Child Nutrition
Wondering how to handle allergies related to sesame? The Institute of Child Nutrition is hosting the January STAR webinar on the newest major allergen. The webinar will provide an overview of the new sesame allergen. It will discuss laws and regulations regarding sesame, symptoms of an allergic reaction, food items that may contain sesame, and communicating with various school stakeholders about this allergen.
- Thursday, January 26, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET
- Register here.
Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in School Meals Programs: Presented by the Food and Nutrition Service Civil Rights Division
-
When: Wednesday, February 8, at 11 a.m. ET
-
Where: This one-hour session will be held virtually, via Webex.
-
Registration: Registration is required, and any local educational agency (LEA) registering must be approved by IDOE. Please reach out to Gretchen Huntzer for the registration link. Please register no later than 24 hours in advance to ensure you receive an attendee link.
Reminders
Farm to School Subgrant
With funding from the USDA's Farm to School grant, IDOE in partnership with Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. will be awarding Farm to School subgrants with the purpose of increasing the use of local proteins in Indiana school and childcare center cafeterias. Applications will be made at the site-level, and funding will be available in predetermined amounts for specific equipment, including chef knives, cutting boards, thermometers, and vacuum sealers. Applicants can also submit original project proposals for their farm to school activities. Subgrants are structured to be easily accessible, and IDOE encourages all sites, including those new to farm to school, to apply. Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 17, at 5 p.m. ET. Full instructions, including a link to the application, can be found here.
Please also join us Thursday, February 9, at 2 p.m. ET for a webinar on procuring local proteins and a brief introduction to the subgrants available. Register here. For questions, please contact Hanna Cahalan.
USDA Announces Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Reimbursement Rates
USDA announced adjustments in SFSP payments for meals served during calendar year 2023. The rates are presented as a combined set of rates based on separate operating and administrative rates of reimbursement, each of which are adjusted differently for inflation. SFSP reimbursement is based solely on a “meals multiplied by rate” calculation. To view the combined rates, click here.
Upcoming Dates |
|
 |
|
Thursday, January 26, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET
|
January STAR Webinar: Presented by the Institute of Child Nutrition
|
|
Wednesday, February 8, at 11 a.m. ET
|
Modifications to Accommodate Disabilities in School Meals Programs: Presented by the Food and Nutrition Service Civil Rights Division
|
|
Tuesday, February 7, at 2 p.m. ET.
|
Smart Snacks Refresher: Presented by IDOE
|
|
Thursday, February 9 at 2 p.m. ET
|
Procuring Local Proteins in Child Nutrition Programs: Presented by Culinary Nutrition Associates
|
|
Friday,
February 17
|
Farm to School Subgrant Application Due
|
|
Friday,
February 17
|
Deadline to Submit School Breakfast Week Challenge Jotform
|
|
Thursday, February 23, at 2 p.m. ET.
|
Direct Certification Overview and Reminders: Presented by IDOE
|
|
Monday, March 6, through Friday, March 10
|
School Breakfast Week
|
|
Friday,
March 10
|
USDA Foods Annual Pre-order (Forecast) Survey Closes
|
|
