August 2019

Our DPG website is currently undergoing a complete makeover! The site will include new features for connecting with fellow SNS members, accessing tools and resources, and will serve as a hub for staying up-to-date on all things school nutritionrelated. 🙌 We’re planning to unveil the new site at FNCE®, so stay tuned!

August 2019

The School Food Modernization Act of 2019 (S.1949/H.R.3444) has been introduced in Congress by Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Tina Smith (Minn.) and Reps. Mark DeSaulnier (Calif.) and Glenn Thompson (Pa.), this legislation will expand schools’ access to modern kitchen equipment and infrastructure, and strengthen workforce training.

The National School Lunch Program turned 73 years old this year and the equipment in many of the program’s more than 95,000 schools is nearly as old. The National School Lunch Program feeds nearly 30 million children each year, with more than 4.8 billion school meals served nationwide in 2018. Our schools need optimally functioning kitchen equipment to be able to feed children nutritious meals.

The health of adults in the future depends on the health of children today — tell Congress to support the School Food Modernization Act!

Please contact your members of Congress to ask them to support the School Food Modernization Act. Take action today and either use the preformatted letter, or add personalization by including your own experiences.

August 2019

On July 24, 2019, USDA published a Proposed Rule to revise categorical eligibility regulations, proposing to limit the TANF-funded benefits that may convey categorical eligibility for school meals. The revisions would potentially end SNAP enrollment for an estimated 1.7 million households and as a result, end direct certification for free school meals for any students living in these households.

This proposed revision is currently open for public comment (closing on September 23, 2019). To submit formal comment, click here!

July 2019

The Academy offers numerous educational opportunities for members! Here are some helpful resources: https://sm.eatright.org/CPEmembership.

July 2019

Learn more about this flexible, affordable way to attend: https://sm.eatright.org/FNCEpayplan

July 2019

“Beyond School Lunch Memes: Real-World Commonalities, Challenges and Successes”

Social media posts of school meals generate millions of online hits – with very little understanding of real-world challenges of feeding millions of children at school. This panel of international school nutrition experts will highlight ways that food and nutrition professionals share global concerns and strategies for overcoming obstacles.

July 2019

Our DPG membership showcase at FNCE® will be held Monday, October 28 at 9:00 am-1:00pm. Stop by and say hello! Stay tuned for more details about our networking event that will also be held during FNCE®.

July 2019

Do you have any ideas or suggestions for a FNCE® 2020 session? We would love to hear your ideas as we start working on topics that will be submitted to the Academy. Share ideas here.

July 2019

The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics has convened a work group of 13 experts in child nutrition programs to determine the best path forward for Child Nutrition Reauthorization. The group is working on compiling a list of recommendations that focuses on Nutrition Education & Promotion, National School Lunch & Breakfast Programs, and Summer Meals Programs.

During the 2019 Advocacy Summit (July 11 & 12, 2019), the Academy’s leadership charged the hill to talk about Child Nutrition Reauthorization. They shared stories from our SNS DPG members with Congressional Representatives – reinforcing the Academy’s dedication & commitment to feeding the future.

July 2019

The School Food Modernization Act of 2019 (S.1949/H.R.3444) has been introduced in Congress by Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Tina Smith (Minn.) and Reps. Mark DeSaulnier (Calif.) and Glenn Thompson (Pa.), this legislation will expand schools’ access to modern kitchen equipment and infrastructure, and strengthen workforce training.

The National School Lunch Program turned 73 years old this year and the equipment in many of the program’s more than 95,000 schools is nearly as old. Tell Congress to support the School Food Modernization Act!

A great video about the School Food Modernization Act can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/1bTUnh3fpuU.

June 2019

USDA recently published a unified agenda for regulatory and deregulatory actions. Read more about the following proposed rules:

June 2019

The House Education and Labor Committee's civil rights subcommittee held an oversight hearing on June 4, 2019 with Brandon Lipps, the administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service. The hearing focused on a range of issues including school nutrition standards access to school meals through the Community Eligibility Provision, access to meals during the summer and the proposal for additional work requirements for SNAP.

During the hearing, committee member and pediatrician Representative Kim Schrier (Wash.) mentioned the important role of registered dietitian nutritionists in helping develop healthy menus for school children.

Policy: The Anti-Lunch Shaming Act would ban schools nationwide from the practice of publicly singling out children — such as with wrist bands or assigned chores — if they can't pay for school meals

June 2019

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (RMaine), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined together to introduce legislation to prohibit school “lunch shaming” – the practice of discriminating against or stigmatizing children who have outstanding credit or don't have enough money to pay for meals at school. The Anti-Lunch Shaming Act would ban schools from singling out children — such as by requiring them to wear hand stamps or do extra chores — because their parents or guardians have not paid their school meal bills.

The Anti-Lunch Shaming Act would prohibit schools participating in U.S. Department of Agriculture school lunch or breakfast programs from using humiliation, throwing children’s meals away, or other shaming tactics because their parents or guardians haven't paid their school meal bill. Instead, it would require schools to direct communications regarding meal debt to the parents or guardians, not the child.

The Anti-Lunch Shaming Act would:

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Companion legislation has also been introduced in the House of Representatives.

May 2019

July 15, 2019
6:30am-8:00am
Title: “What is General Mills doing as a company to foster sustainability for itself and its customer?”

Register Here

May 2019

FNCE® registration opens June 11th! Reminder: Hotels book up fast. This year will be another exciting year to network with colleagues and earn CPEs.

🗓 Pencil in our SNS DPG spotlight session “Beyond School Lunch Memes: RealWorld Commonalities, Challenges and Successes.”

May 2019

Student Liaison Apps for 2019-2020 open June 1. Are you a student or do you know a student who should become a leader in the Academy? Apply to serve as the voice and point of communication between student members and the Academy.

Learn more here.

May 2019

In a series of Policy Memos released in April 2019, USDA FNS provided guidance on crediting several different foods, previously uncredited. In a December 2017 Request for Information, the agency sought public input about specific “high interest” foods. FNS asked whether and how these foods should credit, and looked for input on ingredients, processing methods or nutrient standards that the agency should consider. Based on the response to the December 2017 request, the following guidance has been issued for the crediting of foods including tempeh, surimi seafood, popcorn, coconut, corn masa, corn flour and pasta made with vegetable flour.

May 2019

IMPORTANT! Since the action alert for Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training opened on April 16, 2019, only ~2.75% of Academy members have taken action. A report has been added to the COI that lists the percentage of members by state who have taken action. Please support your colleagues & take action today!

Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanne Reilly, NDTR
SNS DPG Policy & Advocacy Leader

April 2019

Learn how you can make a big impact with these small changes: https://sm.eatright.org/sustainableeating #eatright

April 2019

Many thanks to our MARVELOUS MARCH #SocialMedia Takeover districts 📸

🙌 Stay tuned for AMAZING APRIL Takeovers from Loudon County Schools and Norfolk Public Schools (VA)

🔎 SEEKING #SocialMedia takeovers for MAY and summer months

📢 Share your successes with new audiences.

📈 Increase your followers and support #SNSDPG42 channels.

✉ Contact Dayle Hayes at EatWellatSchool@gmail.com.

April 2019

Child Nutrition Reauthorization is currently a hot topic in Washington DC. On April 10, The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held its first hearing on CNR, entitled “Perspectives on Child Nutrition Reauthorization.” The hearing was broadcast live, and is available for viewing by following this link: "Perspectives on Child Nutrition Reauthorization."

Child Nutrition Programs play a critical role in ensuring that students have access to nutritious meals and it is important for members of the School Nutrition Services Dietetic Practice Group to take an active role in communicating with their members of Congress, in order to maintain the nutritional integrity of the program.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanne Reilly, NDTR
SNS DPG Policy & Advocacy Leader

March 2019

“Beyond School Lunch Memes: Real-World Commonalities, Challenges and Successes”

Social media posts of school meals generate millions of online hits – with very little understanding of real-world challenges of feeding millions of children at school. This panel of international school nutrition experts will highlight ways that food and nutrition professionals share global concerns and strategies for overcoming obstacles.

March 2019

The SNS DPG celebrates all of our members who have dedicated their careers and lives to making our world a healthier, happier place. Nominate a fellow dietitian or yourself to be featured in an upcoming Spoodle Report.

March 2019

Time to renew your membership with the Academy and stay connected with the field of nutrition and dietetics! As a member, you have access to a variety of career enhancing benefits such as the Academy’s member-only website, our dietetic practice groups (Go SNS DPG!) and member interest groups (MIGs), the Evidence Analysis Library®, Food & Nutrition Magazine® and much more.

Renew here

March 2019

In late February, school nutrition professionals, industry representatives and advocates from across the country met in Washington DC for School Nutrition Association’s annual Legislative Action Conference. On February 25, 2019, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue spoke to conference attendees to share his experiences with school meals programs. During his talk, Secretary Perdue shared about USDA’s continuing efforts to provide flexibility to help school nutrition operators better serve students, outlining several recent changes at USDA.

Specifically, Secretary Perdue emphasized efforts since he took office in 2017 to restore local control on (school nutrition) guidelines for whole grains, sodium & milk. During his speech, he announced that the final rule achieving that goal was published in December or 2018. The final rule is outlined as follows:

He also announced USDA’s final rule on hiring flexibility for school nutrition programs and State Agency staff. The USDA’s intent with this policy change would be to make hiring of qualified school nutrition professionals easier for smaller districts (less than 2499 students). You can read more about this new final rule, which is effective beginning April 30, 2019 by following above link.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanne Reilly, NDTR
SNS DPG Policy & Advocacy Leader

February 2019

We will be looking for school nutrition professionals to share their NNM celebrations. Do you have a fellow RDN or DTR who deserves recognition on Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day?

Complete this form if you would like to share news in the March Spoodle Report!

February 2019

It is a special month to celebrate the achievements and contributions made by African Americans, as well as a time to speak up for equality, encourage collaboration between people of all races, and appreciate the power of diversity. Districts across the country are celebrating this month by serving traditional, comforting, soul food. However, we still need to meet our nutrition standards and soul foods can be high in salt, added sugars and saturated fats. But you can embrace those special family recipes by creating healthier soul food, your way. Try these ideas from #EatRight.

February 2019

Are you interested in becoming a preceptor or finding a preceptor? Upload your information to the preceptor database. Be sure to keep your profile updated, so academy members can search for you based on geographical or specialty area. Thank you for your participation, because without interns and dedicated preceptors, our profession would not exist!

February 2019

Later this month, school nutrition professionals from across the country will gather in Washington DC for School Nutrition Association’s Legislative Action Conference to advocate for school meals. Teams from every state will be attending education and general sessions, coming together to help shape federal school nutrition policy and to discuss pressing issues facing school nutrition programs.

The School Nutrition Association’s Position Paper can be read here.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanne Reilly, NDTR
SNS DPG Policy & Advocacy Leader