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Office of Child Nutrition and Food Distribution |
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Kitchen Counter Conversations
Thank you for participating in the September 2025 edition of Kitchen Counter Conversations: Meal Pattern Overview - Review Readiness. You can find the recording, as well as the resources discussed during the webinar, in the links below.
Join us for the Meal Pattern Modernization: Added Sugar Intensive & Culinary Training event on Oct. 22, at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND.
On Nov. 5 at the United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, ND.
This 6-hour training day—filled with learning and delicious food—will focus on the latest updates in meal patterns, with special emphasis on reducing added sugars.
North Dakota school cooks will be eligible for a $75 payment upon successful completion of the day’s activities. These payments will be made directly to the individual and do require a W9 and Payment Request Form to be completed AND their district will be eligible to apply for an equipment subgrant. These subgrants will be available for purchases that support increased scratch cooking, enhanced fresh produce processing, improved storing and serving capacity, and necessary smallware.
Our culinary training will provide hands-on experience and tips for creating delicious recipes that meet dietary specifications. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge - Register now to secure your spot!
Each session will cover the same content—attendance at just one is sufficient. Additional training dates will be announced soon!
REGISTER TODAY!
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These resources were discussed in the webinar:
Additional information on the Beans, Peas & Lentils vegetable subgroup:
If you choose to menu a bean, pea, or lentil as a meat alternate for a specific menu day that can count toward your bean, pea, and lentil vegetable subgroup for the week. However, you would still need to serve an additional vegetable at that meal period to count toward the vegetable food component for that day.
For example, if you offer a bean and cheese burrito with ½ cup of beans counting as a one-ounce meat alternate equivalent, you will still need to offer a serving of vegetables or, have the salad bar available. The beans in that burrito would count toward the weekly bean, pea, and lentil subgroup.
These upcoming training opportunities were discussed in the webinar:
- Procurement Training: Oct. 15, held in Bismarck, ND (free to attend)
- NDSNA Conference: Oct. 16-17, held in Bismarck, ND (registration fees apply):
Please log this hour of attendance as Professional Development for the year.
Join us next month for the October Kitchen Counter Conversations
Added Sugar: Cross the T's & Dot the I's
Join us for “Added Sugars: Cross the T’s and Dot the I’s,” a focused webinar designed to deepen your understanding of the upcoming 10% of added sugar from total calories dietary specification under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
This session will not only clarify the sugar limits and introduce calculation methods, but also bring in the reviewer’s perspective—with insights on how state agencies assess compliance using meal pattern review tools, including green sheets. Understanding how your menus are evaluated can help ensure your program is not only compliant but audit-ready.
Date & Time:
📅 Date: Oct. 21, 2025
🕒 Time: 2 p.m. CDT
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NDDPI Child Nutrition and Food Distribution
Main Office:
600 E. Boulevard Ave, Dept 201
Bismarck, ND 58505
PHONE: 701-328-2294 or 888-338-3663
FAX: 701-328-9566
Email: dpicnfd@nd.gov
Mayville Office:
14 Main St E, Mayville, ND 58257
PHONE: 701-788-8901 or 888-788-8901
Website: https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/child-nutrition-and-food-distribution
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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