Local School Wellness Policy
The past two program years, USDA has granted a waiver to schools regarding the triennial assessment of the Local Wellness Policy. This year, there is no waiver, and schools must ensure the policy is assessed once every three years. The IDOE Wellness Policies webpage has all the resources needed to write, assess, and update the policy.
Common findings related to the Local Wellness Policy include:
- No attempt to form a wellness committee consisting of stakeholders, including parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community members
- No documentation of public announcement to various stakeholders for joining a wellness committee
- Wellness goals are too vague to assess
- Incorrect verbiage for assurance in meeting USDA meal pattern requirements
- Parents and students are not made aware there is a wellness policy
Farm to School Subgrant - Deadline Extended!
The deadline to submit applications for the Farm to School subgrant has been extended through Friday, February 24, at 5 p.m. ET. Through this opportunity, IDOE seeks to increase 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. Full instructions, including a link to the application, can be found here.
For questions, please contact Hanna Cahalan.
Turnip the Beet Award Winners Announced
On Thursday, February 9, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced Turnip the Beet award winners for program year 2022. This award recognizes Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors for excellence in the preparation and service of nutritious meals during the summer. Out of 98 recipients nationwide, Indiana had a total of nine winners. To view the complete list of winners and learn how to apply, view the Turnip the Beet webpage.
Gold Winner:
- Inside Out Community Development Corporation (Muncie)
Silver Winners:
- Bartholomew County Schools
- Clark Road Genesis Family Center (Gary)
- New Albany – Floyd County Consolidated Schools
Bronze Winners:
- Danville Community School Corporation
- Elkhart Community Schools
- Fort Wayne Community Schools Nutrition Services
- Merrillville Community School Corporation
- MSD of Decatur Township
Congratulations to all food service directors and staff for your hard work and dedication!
Rich Products Corporation No Longer Offering 100193 Pork Picnic
Rich Products Corporation is no longer offering 100193 pork picnic. If your school allocated pounds to Rich Products Corporation under the raw products button on the school year 2023-2024 annual pre-order survey, please remove them and reallocate those entitlement dollars to other pork picnic processors or other USDA Foods survey offerings.
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
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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!
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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.
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New direct delivered items - New items include 100119 - Turkey Taco Filling, Cooked, Frozen and 110721 ‐ Sweet Potatoes, Crinkle Cut Fries, Frozen.
New Resources from Team Nutrition and the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition (CICN)
Team Nutrition, in partnership with CICN, is excited to share new resources! The CICN is the division of the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) that provides school nutrition professionals with in-depth, hands-on culinary training and resources that are foundational for scratch-based cooking and the creation of culinary-inspired school meals that are healthy, flavorful, and student-approved.
February Webinars from IDOE
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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.
No Kid Hungry Level Up Roadshow
Join No Kid Hungry Indiana to discuss strategies on marketing, stakeholder buy-in, and culinary skills. During this day-long training, participants will learn how to:
- Market their program in a tech-savvy world;
- Obtain stakeholder buy-in;
- Involve students in school meals;
- Take visually-appealing school meal photos;
- Create an enticing serving line;
- Menu culturally responsive foods to reach your community; and
- Implement food theme days with a focus on the bottom line.
Training will be offered on Tuesday, April 4, at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, as well as Thursday, April 6, at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. Register here.
2023 School Nutrition Association (SNA) Awards
SNA is now accepting nominations for outstanding school nutrition professionals. Award categories include Employee of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Director of the Year.
The SNA Awards program highlights the outstanding and important work of SNA members and state affiliates. Members and state associations are eligible for a variety of honors that recognize their achievements in school foodservice, leadership, membership recruitment, and professional development.
For more information, click here.
Upcoming Dates |
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Thursday, February 23,
at 2 p.m. ET.
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February Webinar from IDOE: Direct Certification Overview and Reminders. Register here.
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Tuesday, February 28
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EXTENSION: Final day to revise July through September claims due to Direct Certification bug
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Wednesday, March 1
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December Claim Deadline
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Monday, March 6, through Friday, March 10
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School Breakfast Week
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Wednesday, March 8
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Food Service Employee of the Year nominations due
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Friday, March 10
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USDA Foods Annual Pre-order (Forecast) Survey Closes
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