Community Nutrition- SFSP Updates for the Week of 8/29

• Update: Sunset on the Summer Newsletters
• Update: We Want To Hear From You! Register for the 2022 SFSP Wrap-up Meeting
• Update: We Want to Recognize You for Serving Nutritious Meals- Submit Your Turnip the Beet Nomination Form!
• Important Dates to Remember

Update: Sunset on the Summer Newsletters

Thank you for all your hard work this summer! As the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) winds down, OSPI Child Nutrition Services will discontinue sending the Summer Newsletter in the coming weeks. 

Next Steps

We want to ensure that important information is shared to appropriate groups and that you are able to easily identify which program the newsletter is geared toward. Here are the options as we head into the upcoming program year:

• If your organization operates the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) in SY 22–23, you may already be receiving the School Meals and Food Distribution Newsletter. Please refer to the School Meals and Food Distribution newsletter for important program reminders and updates.
• If your organization operates the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), you may already be receiving the CACFP Newsletter. Please refer to the CACFP Newsletter for important program reminders and updates.
• If your organization only operates the SFSP, you will no longer receive a weekly newsletter until we start communicating about summer 2023 operations.

Not Receiving Newsletters?

There are two ways to be on the list for our newsletters. 

1. Be a program contact in the WINS application. USDA requires CNS to share mandatory information to program sponsors. If you are listed as the program contact in the WINS Application you will receive weekly updates.
2. Self-Subscribe to our newsletters. You can manage the updates you receive by editing your subscription preferences through our GovDelivery subscription system. You may subscribe to any of our newsletters for program information (just make sure to keep in mind which program the newsletter is referring to!).

Questions? Please email Sam Brueske, Training and Communications Specialist.

Update: We Want To Hear From You! Register for the 2022 SFSP Wrap-up Meeting

OSPI CNS would like to thank all of our 2022 SFSP sponsors! Because of your dedication, the children across Washington have had access to healthy meals throughout the summer months. This year was a big transition year for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) with returning back to normal SFSP requirements, while also dealing with supply chain issues and staffing shortages. In addition, OSPI continued administrative reviews since our 2021 gap year. Since things likely looked quite a bit different from the past two summers, we want to hear from you! Register for the 2022 Summer Wrap Up Meeting Date: Monday, September 19 Time: 2–3 pm PT During the webinar we will facilitate a discussion regarding the operation of SFSP in the future, and invite sponsors to share their experiences with the Summer Food Service Program this year. Questions? Please email the Summer Meals team.

Update: We Want to Recognize You for Serving Nutritious Meals- Submit Your Turnip the Beet Nomination Form!

Are your meals appetizing, appealing, and nutritious? The USDA wants to recognize you!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Turnip the Beet award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the country who work to offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious.

Applications must be submitted to OSPI by October 7, 2022.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nominees must be a SFSP or Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsor in good standing.
• Must have operated SFSP or SSO during Summer 2022.
• Menus must feature appetizing, appealing, and nutritious meals that meet meal pattern requirements.
• Additional menu criteria include the following. Sponsors earn up to two (2) points for each criteria met, and up to one (1) point for bonus questions.

• Meals are prepared to be age-appropriate for the population being served.
  • Bonus: Meals are culturally appropriate for the needs of the community served.
• Feedback is collected from children about meals served.
• Children are encouraged to eat healthy foods.
• Nutrition-based activities are offered at summer sites.
  • Bonus: Team Nutrition resources are used at summer sites.
• Service of locally grown foods at least one (1) time per week, per meal type.
• Menu includes one (1) hot food item per week, per meal type.
• Entrees repeat two times or less per month, per meal type.
  • Bonus: Entrée types (i.e. sandwiches, pasta dishes, breaded poultry dishes) are repeated two (2) times or less per week, per meal type.
• At least four (4) different vegetables and/or fruits are served throughout the week, per meal type.
  • Bonus: At least one (1) serving each of dark green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, beans and peas (legumes), starchy vegetables, and other vegetables is served per week.
• The majority of vegetables and fruits are fresh.
• Juice is limited to two (2) times or less per meal type, per week.
• At least 50% grains are whole grain-rich.
• Sweet Grains are limited to two (2) times or less per meal type, per week.
  • Bonus: Sweet grains are not served.

• Only low-fat or non-fat milk is offered to children aged 2 and older. If one-year-old children attend the summer site, they are served whole milk.
• Availability of Water at no cost.

Application Information

• Turnip the Beet Nomination Form(Note: a menu must be submitted with the nomination form)
• One-page Overview of Award
• USDA’s Turnip the Beet webpage

Submit your nomination form & menu to the Summer Meals inbox.  

Important Dates to Remember