Final Rule Updates Start Now
The Meal Pattern Dietary Guidelines Final Rule requires no menu changes for SY 24-25. However, there are some new flexibilities available that start now.
1. Meat/Meat Alternates at Breakfast – the requirement to offer a minimum of 1.0 ounce equivalent of grains each day at breakfast before offering a meat/meat alternate was removed. You can now offer grains, meat/meat alternates, or a combination of both, to meet the minimum ounce requirements. Updated Breakfast Meal Pattern chart is available.
2. Vegetables at Breakfast – continues to allow schools to substitute vegetables for fruits in the School Breakfast Program. If a vegetable is offered at breakfast one day per school week, then it can be from any vegetable subgroup. If a school offers vegetables two or more days at breakfast per school week, then the vegetables must be from two different vegetables subgroups.
3. Beans, Peas and Lentils – notice the name change from Beans, Peas and Legumes. There is also a crediting change. Previously, beans, peas and lentils could not credit for the vegetable and the meat/meat alternates in the same meal. This is still correct, but there is more to it now. Beans, peas and lentils may be offered as the meat alternate at school lunch, but it may also count it toward the weekly Beans, Peas, and Lentils vegetable subgroup requirement for the week. The menu planner decides how to credit it. A different vegetable must still be served on days beans, peas and lentils are credit as meat alternate(s)
4. Nuts and Seeds – may now be used as the entire meat/meat alternate component at breakfast, lunch, and supper. The restriction of only half of the meat/meat alternate(s) has been removed.
5. Bean Dip Exemption – bean dip is added to the list of foods exempt from the total fat standard in the Smart Snacks regulations. Bean dip is defined as hummus or similar products that are made from any variety of beans, peas, or lentils. Bean dip still must meet other nutrient specifications (calories, sugar by weight, saturated fat, and sodium) in the Smart Snacks requirements.
6. Trans fat – the dietary specification that does not allow synthetic trans fat was removed because of the actions of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban it in the United States food supply.
On May 21, 2024, the Tuesday at 2 covered this final rule in more detail. The recording is posted. Watch for additional training throughout the year on the latest standards.
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Back to School Toolbox
The Institute of Child Nutrition released a 2024 Back to School Toolbox. Watch the intro video to learn about re-opening kitchens. There is also a handy checklist, as well as many different training classes, videos and posters. Don’t forget that you can also get a lot of great free resources from Team Nutrition, too!
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10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms Program/Application Training
Registration is now available for 2024-2025 program year training, including hands-on application assistance. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
Join us for a workshop to learn how 10 Cents a Meal works, how to source local produce, and what is needed to participate. Bring your laptop if you would like help with completing your application during the session, or just bring your questions.
August 20 -Flint, MI- https://forms.office.com/g/zSDQVTpGXr 2-4 pm Genesee ISD Erwin L. Davis Education Center 2413 W Maple Ave Flint, MI
August 22 – Macomb- https://forms.office.com/g/BxTUnesU5Q 2-4 pm Macomb ISD Education Service Center 44001 Garfield Road Clinton Township, MI
August 26 – Kalamazoo- https://forms.office.com/g/LqXV5RPXCY 2-4 pm Kalamazoo Valley Community College Culinary and Allied Health Building 418 E Walnut St Kalamazoo, MI
August 29 – Lansing- https://forms.office.com/g/j3wSDKfYTb 2-4 pm Allen Neighborhood Center 1611 E Kalamazoo St Lansing, MI
September 4 – Gwinn- https://forms.office.com/g/iR3ASZG3xB 2-4 pm Gwinn High School 50 W State Highway M35 Gwinn MI
September 5 – Traverse City- https://forms.office.com/g/9h2Y1qXfbn 2-4 pm Northwest Education Services Conference Center 1101 Red Drive Traverse City, MI
September 10 – Bay City- https://forms.office.com/g/H9VwBRjXbg 2-4 pm Bay-Arenac ISD 4228 Two Mile Rd. Bay City, MI
September 12 – Muskegon- https://forms.office.com/g/888Jm55U4C 2-4 pm Muskegon Area Career Tech Center 200 Harvey Muskegon, MI
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Michigan School Meals Approved for Second Year
The Office of Nutrition Services (ONS) is excited to share that Governor Whitmer signed the School State Aid budget on July 23, 2024. It includes funding to continue free breakfasts and lunches for the upcoming school year through the Michigan School Meals Program. Michigan School Meals will run as it did this past year. A Michigan School Meals Toolkit is available to help you promote it to your community. It includes newsletter, flyer, slide and social post.
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Turnip the Beet 2024
The Meet Up and Eat Up Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Turnip the Beet Award recognizes outstanding SFSP sponsors across Michigan who work hard to offer high quality meals that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious during the summer months. Three award levels are available: Bronze, Silver, and Gold and are open to all sponsors.
The Turnip the Beet nominations (form, menu, and supporting documents) are due by Thursday, September 5, 2024, via email to mde-sfsp@michigan.gov.
Winners will be notified by the Michigan Department of Education in early 2025.
Turnip the Beet 2024 Nomination Packet
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System Access Help
The Michigan Department of Education's Office of Nutrition Services is currently experiencing a transition with staff. Please be advised that responses to any system and/or access related questions may be delayed.
In the meantime, you may be able to find the answer(s) you need on our website.
- If you are unsure of what system you need access to, you can find a summary of each of the systems and what they do HERE.
- If you need step by step instructions for getting access to a system, you can find instructions HERE.
- You can find ALL of the system help documents HERE.
The new mailbox for all system and access related questions is MDE-ONS-Access@michigan.gov.
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