Are you operating the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO) this summer?
Do you serve appetizing, appealing, and nutritious meals that meet meal pattern requirements?
If yes, submit the Turnip the Beet Nomination Award and be recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the great work you’re doing!
About this Award
Turnip the Beet recognizes summer meal program sponsors for serving high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious during the summer months. Awarded by the USDA Food & Nutrition Service (FNS), sponsors can earn national recognition through three award levels: gold, silver, and bronze. Gold and silver winners will be featured on the USDA’s blog and gold winners will also be identified on the FNS’ summer site finder.
Submit Your Nomination
Nomination forms and a one-month menu must be submitted to the Summer Meals inbox by August 4, 2021.
Resources
For additional information on the award, nomination process, and evaluation criteria, please visit OSPI’s Turnip the Beet webpage.
Meal service locations and operations often change throughout the summer. As a reminder, meals served at unapproved sites or outside of the approved meal service schedules may be disallowed from the claim for reimbursement.
Meal Service Changes
- Changes to meal distribution methods or waivers used, submit a new Meal Distribution Plan to reflect the changes.
- If meal times or dates change, ensure your WINS site calendar is updated prior to the change in operation. Meals are only eligible for reimbursement when served during the State Agency approved dates and times per 7 CFR 225.16. Calendar revisions must be approved prior to meal service.
Adding or Removing Sites
- For new sites, submit a site application and calendar, as well as update the budget to include the site’s projected operating costs. Email your program specialist if the site needs to be added to WINS.
- Site applications and calendars for new sites must be submitted prior to beginning meal service.
- For sites stopping operations, revise the site calendar with the last meal service date.
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist or email the Summer Meals inbox.
The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) is the only federally funded national center dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for child nutrition programs.
Free Training for You and Your Staff Using iLearn!
The ICN's updated online learning portal, iLearn, provides self-paced, free online learning and offers users the flexibility to complete courses in multiple sessions. The iLearn portal can be used on desktop, laptop, or mobile devices.
View the course catalog today!
ICN added new features that enhance the eLearning experience, including:
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Personalized Profiles: Users can select English or Spanish and their Child Nutrition Program to complete their personalized profile.
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Online Courses in Spanish: iLearn includes ICN’s first Spanish online course, Nutrición 101 4ta Edicion. Users can also select Español in their profile for a translated online experience.
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iLearn @ ICN Mobile App: Child Nutrition Professionals can download the app and iLearn @ ICN on the go!
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Coming Soon - Live Webinars! Child Nutrition Professionals can register and attend ICN's scheduled live webinars on iLearn and keep all information and certificates in one location.
Questions? Please contact the ICN Support Team.
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Bellevue School District featured local stone fruits throughout the month of July as part of their Farm to Summer Celebration! During Farm to Summer Week, a one-page handout about stone fruit was included with the 5-day meal kits while those attending in-person summer programming at school received activity sheets. Then, stone fruits were highlighted again later in the month with a recipe.
Way to go, Bellevue School District!
 Did You Participate in WA Farm to Summer Week?
If so, please complete this post-survey! The survey asks questions such as how many meals served contained a local food items, an estimation of costs spent on local food items, general challenges/impacts seen as a result of participating in Farm to Summer Week and other information. This information helps us promote this work as well as improve our agency support in future years.
We recommend completing it at your earliest convenience while your experience with Farm to Summer Week is fresh in your mind, but will leave the survey open through the end of August to allow more time if needed. The survey is 12 questions and should take about 10 minutes to complete.
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August 15
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July Claim Due in WINS
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August 30
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June Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim
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