Celebrate National School Breakfast Week: March 3-7, 2025 |
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If you have not already started planning, now is the time! Plan to celebrate your School Breakfast Program during National School Breakfast Week, which is taking place March 3-7! The theme this year is: Clue in to School Breakfast.
Some ideas to celebrate may include:
- Decorate the cafeteria.
- Dress the part! Have school nutrition staff dress up in detective-inspired clothes.
- Have themed activities for the students to engage them.
- Have a playlist of music going during breakfast.
- Give out daily clues starting on Monday, March 3, to a mystery that will be revealed on Friday, March 7.
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February Edition, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. CST
Join North Dakota Team Nutrition for the February Kitchen Counter Conversation webinar as we discuss "Added Sugar Product Limits.” We will feature guests from General Mills.
In this session, we will delve into the regulations surrounding added sugar limits in food products and discuss the products that already meet these standards. Our guests will shed light on the upcoming product changes and availability aimed at increasing variety for your operations.
Key Highlights:
- Understanding the definition of added sugar.
- Reviewing the product limitations and the timeline for implementation.
- Exploring compliant products that meet existing regulations.
- Insight into upcoming changes and the goal to expand product options.
Don't miss this chance to gain essential insights into the upcoming changes and learn how to stay aligned with the implementation timeline. Register now to secure your spot!
As always, prior webinar recordings are posted on our website for viewing: UPDATES | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (nd.gov).
Urgent REMINDER:
Please check your Point of Sale to make sure that the Reduced Eligible Students are NOT being charged for Breakfast or Lunch! It has come to our attention that there still are a few schools that have not taken the $.30 Breakfast/$.40 Lunch charges out of their meal accounting system. All students eligible for a free or reduced rate, including State 200 eligible students, should receive both breakfast and lunch at no charge based on North Dakota funding for the reduced-price meals.
Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) is not included.
NDDPI will begin gathering student data during February for streamlined certification of students for Summer EBT. NDDPI gathers school enrollment data from STARS. For schools not using STARS, NDDPI requests enrollment information for all children, including those determined eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the NSLP application process or through direct certification (children receiving SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or FDPIR).
During this data collection period, NDDPI may need to contact your school to obtain enrollment or demographic information or to request student eligibility for free and reduced-price meals. In order for our office to know who to contact when we need assistance with Summer EBT, we are asking that schools complete a quick survey that will collect the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of those staff at your school who work with or who has access to enrollment, student demographic information or who has access to individual free and reduced-price meal eligibility. We will ask for the primary contact during the school year and a secondary contact during the summer months when we often need to reach out to schools for assistance with enrollment or demographic information.
Please complete the survey by Feb. 14.
Summer EBT Office Hours
The NDDPI Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Office is beginning to prepare for Summer EBT 2025. Summer EBT is an annual program that provides food assistance to households with school-aged children who are eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals during the summer when they don’t have access to meals at school. Each eligible student receives an annual benefit of $120 via an EBT card. Benefits can be used just like SNAP benefits but expire 122 days after issuance.
To help schools prepare, we will be hosting weekly office hours on Thursdays from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. CST starting on Jan. 30 and ending on Feb. 27. Topics discussed during office hours will include streamlined certification, student data, parent/guardian demographics, the S-EBT portal, and the application process.
Please use this link to join any of the Thursday office hours: Join the Meeting NOW
We encourage all schools to participate to learn more about the program and to find out how they can ensure eligible students receive the benefit this summer.
If your school has not signed up with the State Cooperative Bid, now is the time to start planning your own food procurement for the upcoming school year. Federal law requires proper procurement practices to ensure that all purchases for the school food service program are made fairly, openly, equitably, and transparently.
Start with Your District’s Procurement Policy
Begin by reviewing your district’s procurement policy to determine the methods and contract types that will guide your purchasing process. Think of this policy as your roadmap for ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
Key Requirements to Keep in Mind:
- The procurement policy must include provisions specific to school food service, such as adherence to the Buy American requirement.
- The Code of Conduct for food service employees should also be outlined in the policy.
- Both of these elements are required documentation for the administrative review process.
Determining What to Purchase
Once you have reviewed the policy, the next step is to identify what needs to be procured. Regardless of the procurement level (micro, small, or formal), detailed specifications should be written to ensure proper purchasing decisions.
Need help getting started? Email us at dpicnfd@nd.gov to request a market basket template for food items.
For additional guidance and next steps, visit our website: SNP Procurement | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Note: The State Coop bid deadline to participate was Jan. 29, HOWEVER, they are willing to add more schools as an addendum to the bid documents. If you are still interested in the State Cooperative bid as managed by the Cooperative Purchasing Connection (CPC), please contact them immediately. Email: info@purchasingconnection.org or 1-866-337-2005.
February Harvest of the Month
In February, we are celebrating dairy as the Harvest of the Month feature. There are so many delicious and nutritious ways to get your dairy intake. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are some favorites! Check out the recipes below to find fun new ways to enjoy dairy.
If interested in Harvest of the Month characters for coloring pages or room décor, please contact Amanda Olson (amolson@nd.gov).
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Ugli fruit, also known as "unique fruit" or "ugli,” is a hybrid citrus fruit native to Jamaica. It is a cross between an orange, grapefruit, and tangerine, resulting in a vibrant fruit with a slightly rough, greenish-yellow skin that may look a bit unappealing, but it holds a delightful surprise inside. The ugli fruit is typically large and round, with a bumpy, loose rind that makes it easy to peel. Its flesh is juicy and sweet with a tangy kick, offering a flavor that combines the sweetness of an orange and the tartness of a grapefruit.
Ugli fruit is not just tasty but also packed with nutrients. It is a rich source of vitamin C, which supports the immune system. This citrus hybrid is grown primarily in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean but is now available in various international markets. Despite its unique appearance, the ugli fruit has gained popularity for its exceptional flavor and health benefits. The fruit is typically harvested in the winter months, with January through March being its peak quality.
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America's Healthiest Schools Awards
Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards
- Are you blazing new trails or using innovative strategies to improve school meals? If so, you are eligible to apply for a recognition award through the USDA Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Initiative, and Action for Healthy Kids!
- For more information on how to apply, click here: Recognition Awards - Action for Healthy Kids.
We are collaborating with the North Dakota School Boards Association (NDSBA) regarding revisions to Policy FCAA, “Accommodating Students with Allergies and Special Dietary Needs.” The updated policy will include language more inclusive to all food allergies considered disabilities instead of just ‘life-threatening allergies' as is currently written. If students in your district have a food allergy, intolerance, or other special dietary need, here are a few reminders about the school’s responsibilities:
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Any food allergy, intolerance, or special dietary need that limits a major life activity constitutes a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Such food restrictions require dietary modifications to the meals served.
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If the dietary modification involves accommodations that do not meet the meal pattern requirements, a "Medical Statement to Request School Meal Modification" must be signed by a licensed healthcare professional to claim the meal for reimbursement.
- In North Dakota, this can include licensed physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, and/or registered dietitians.
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The medical statement should include a brief description of the physical and/or mental impairment, how it restricts their diet or other major life activity, which foods to omit, and which foods to substitute (if appropriate).
Join the Growing School Garden Summit Webinar Series on Feb. 19, 1 p.m. CST. Presenting an engaging and insightful webinar, "Nurturing Diversity in School Gardens," where we'll explore the transformative power of inclusivity and representation in educational gardening programs. This session will dive into the importance of intentional representation, uncovering and addressing unexamined practices and celebrating the rich tapestry of cultural backgrounds within our school communities. Learn practical strategies to create a welcoming and inclusive garden space that honors and reflects the diverse identities of your students. Register here!
Join the Meal Talk: Reducing Sodium in School Meals Webinar on Feb. 20, at 2 p.m. CST. School districts in Washington and Iowa will share innovative ideas and best practices as well as USDA Team Nutrition and the Institute of Child Nutrition sharing resources. Register here!
Local Food for Schools and Child Care Program (LFSCC)
Through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), USDA will award funds to states for food assistance purchases of domestic local foods for distribution to schools and childcare institutions. This program will strengthen the food system for schools and childcare institutions by helping to build a fair, competitive, and resilient local food chain, and expand local and regional markets with an emphasis on purchasing from historically underserved producers and processors.
North Dakota is planning on applying for this program, and our state would be awarded up to $869,770 for childcare institutions participating in CACFP and $1,835,939 for schools participating in NSLP. We are currently in the stages of gathering information and will contact you soon with options to attend webinars and office hours once our plans are approved. Our goal is to make this program successful, and we will work to provide technical assistance to ensure everyone can participate. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Amanda Olson.
North Dakota Grants
There will be two (2) grants opening in early 2025. Since they will open after this newsletter, a separate email will be sent. Otherwise, you can check out the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s website for more details. Home | North Dakota Department of Agriculture
North Dakota Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition Gardening Grant
This grant will be awarded to 10 early childcare and education sites (daycares and preschools) for $400 to use towards supplies for gardens or raised beds. Details and application link coming soon.
Farm to School Equipment Grants
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced that applications are now being accepted for Farm to School equipment grants.
Farm to School equipment grants will allow eligible recipients to purchase equipment that will further their participation in the Farm to School program, which allows schools to purchase food from local producers for their school lunch menus.
To be eligible for grant funds, an applicant must be a North Dakota producer, North Dakota K-12 school district participating in the National School Lunch Program, or North Dakota Early Childhood Education Center participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
“After holding meetings across the state, schools and producers indicated that they need more equipment to help ease the process of getting local foods to students,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “This grant will assist in that process.”
North Dakota received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Award for the program. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) will distribute the $204,500 available for grants through a competitive process.
Applications must be submitted in electronic form by March 31, 2025. Applications will then be reviewed, scored, ranked and provided to Agriculture Commissioner Goehring for final approval.
Goehring said persons needing more information should contact Jenna Nieters at (701) 328-2659 or jnieters@nd.gov.
SNF Equipment Grants
NSLP Equipment grants were awarded to five North Dakota schools early in January. Congratulations!
For those schools who applied and were not chosen or who had an idea but didn’t get the application done in time, check out the School Nutrition Foundation grants here: Equipment Grants - School Nutrition Association. Those filling out the application must be a current member of the School Nutrition Association at the director level. Separate applications for each manufacturer’s grant process will be needed as well.
Those manufacturers include:
- Alto-Sham awarding a $9,000 holding cabinet,
- AmTab will award three different grants,
- K12 Food Court Decoration worth up to $200,000,
- K12 Signage, Graphics and Décor worth up to $100,000,
- K12 Outdoor Furniture work $50,000,
- Cambo has a Cambro Vending Cart up for grabs worth $13,000,
- Sterno would like to place $5,000 of insulated food carriers in a school needing to deliver meals,
- FWE (Food Warming Equipment) has an extensive line of cabinets, fridges, freezers, and portable bars on attached to their application. These items will be worth $25,000,
- Hobart would like to award a school district with $35,000 of their equipment,
- Innoseal Equipment has 50 grants available with sealers and refills valued at $11,250. They would like to place one in every state!,
- LTI (Low Temp Industries) Equipment grant will award a Grab and Go cart up to $10,000 in value,
- Vulcan has $50,000 in equipment to award, and
- Winston has two grants to award where improvement in facilities and serving is needed.
Applications must show need, a plan to integrate new equipment, and explain how the new equipment will impact the school nutrition program.
North Dakota School nutrition professionals have great ideas! Remember to use all of your available resources such as the English teacher, the maintenance department and others who can help phrase answers to application questions fully and provide a second set of eyes, so grammar and spelling mistakes won’t be included.
Team Nutrition will host the Monthly Kitchen Counter Conversations starting this month. Our goal is to provide relevant information on the meal pattern changes and offer real examples of menu options to implement in your operations.
One of our initiatives is to include South Dakota School Nutrition Professionals in our training program, allowing us to educate and train a broader audience within our region. We are thrilled to announce that South Dakota School Nutrition Professionals will be joining our webinars going forward!
We are in the final stages of contracting with our culinary expert and collaborating with NDSU Extension Agents to develop our in-person training program. We look forward to seeing you in a training session next school year!
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