Teachers at The REAL School, a public alternative and special education school in Falmouth, started an agriculture and culinary arts program this past year, utilizing adventure- and project-based service learning practices to enhance the school lunch program with locally grown produce. This brief video by Wisconsin PBS documents the school’s approach and the inspirational results.
Continue reading “Students start culinary program to better school lunch”
The final rule, “Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs” was published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) on January 26, 2012. This final rule updates the meal patterns and nutrition standards for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to align them with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Continue reading “Maine schools to implement new nutrition rule”
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) requires that an additional six-cents-per-lunch reimbursement be provided to School Food Authorities (SFAs) certified by the Maine Department of Education, in compliance with new meal pattern requirements. On October 1, 2012, this additional reimbursement becomes available to certified school food authorities. Certification procedures will require SFAs to submit documentation demonstrating compliance with the updated meal patterns consistent with the final meal pattern regulation.
Continue reading “Additional lunch reimbursements available”
Seven schools in four districts received one of the nation’s highest nutrition awards for their achievements in the HealthierUS School Challenge last week.
John Magnarelli, USDA’s top regional school lunch official, presented students, administrators and food service staff with plaques and banners at schools in Kittery, York, Wells-Ogunquit CSD and MSAD 72.
Preparing healthy school meals, promoting good nutrition habits, and offering a friendly greeting are all in a day’s work for the School Nutrition employees across Maine.
Maine school food service professionals are invited to a spring informational meeting on May 17 focused on implementing the new meal pattern regulations required by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
Continue reading “New meal patterns focus of spring nutrition meeting”
Teachers and food service staff members from Maine schools are invited to a day-long, no-cost workshop focused on creative approaches to nutrition education. The workshop takes place April 30 at the Augusta Civic Center.
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ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER: 75
POLICY CODE: EF
Continue reading “Determining paid student lunch cost for school year 2012-13”
By Hayley Simmons
The last thing most Mainers are thinking of with snow on the ground is summer. For Gail Lombardi, Program Manager of the Summer Food Service Program at the Maine Department of Education, however, the next few months will be focused on recruiting sponsors dedicated to feeding children when school lets out for the summer. The Summer Food Service Program, run by the Maine Department of Education, provides kids receiving free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch during the school year with nutritious meals during the long summer months.
Continue reading “Healthy meals when school lets out for summer”
School cafeterias across the country next week (March 5-9) will celebrate National School Breakfast Week by hosting “School Breakfast – Go for Gold,” a fun campaign designed to highlight how eating a balanced breakfast at school helps students shine.
Continue reading “School breakfast week challenges students to ‘go for gold’”
Maine DOE Newsroom 