The deadline to register for the Summit has been extended to 4 pm on Thursday, April 26*
~Sponsored by CT No Kid Hungry~
Please join us to learn about the federal School Breakfast Program and how it can foster continued excellence and academic achievement in your students and schools! Hear from national and state experts on how to start, expand, and advocate for School Breakfast in your school or community.
Audience: School Administrators, Teachers, Community Members, Food Service Directors, and School Nurses.
Registration Details:
Fee: $15 per person (meals provided)**
SNA CEUs: 5.0/ SDE CEUs: 0.5
SPEAKERS: JAMES ARENA-DEROSA, Northeast Regional Administrator USDA Food and Nutrition Service; DAYLE HAYES, Award-winning author, educatorand nutrition coach, MADELEINE LEVIN Senior Policy Analyst Food Research Action Center
Topics will include:
• Overcoming challenges and barriers
• Steps to getting school breakfast started
• Funding opportunities and financial impact
• Creative breakfast service and increasing program participation
• Reaching out to families
*Onsite registration may be available, but space is limited, so register by April 26 to reserve your seat.
Partners
Connecticut School Breakfast Expansion Team
School Nutrition Association of Connecticut
End Hunger Connecticut!
New England Dairy & Food Council
Food Research and Action Center
Connecticut State Department of Education
Connecticut Department of Administrative Services
NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS CELEBRATES CHEFS MOVE TO SCHOOLS FIRST ANNIVERSARY
Brennan-Rogers School 2nd graders to learn about Farmer’s Markets & Local Foods
What: Celebration of the First Anniversary of the Chefs Move to Schools program with the 2nd grade students of Brennan-Rogers School.
The 2nd graders will each receive a copy of Tractor Mac, Farmer’s Market Book by Billy Steers, donated by The Plow to Plate® program which originated in New Milford, CT. The story will be read to the students by Mary Dale DeBor, founder of Plow to Plate®, and a consultant to health care and other community -based organizations, now living in New Haven. The students will also receive tomato seeds donated by HJ Heinz Company and a special chef hat from Chef Tim.
When: Friday, June 3, 2011. 10:30am
Where: Brennan-Rogers School (Clarence Rogers Building)
199 Wilmot Road, New Haven, CT 06515
Additional Information:
“Chefs Move to Schools has been a fantastic program in our schools since it was kicked off on the south lawn of the White House June 4, 2011. The chefs working with us in our schools have embraced the program and the kids love meeting with and learning from the chefs.” Chef Timothy Cipriano, Executive Director of Food Services, “We have adapted our version to include additional components surrounding farm to school, school gardens and promoting and serving items from those component on our salad bars.”
The Chefs Move to Schools program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), matches chefs with school districts to help schools improve health and nutrition that meet the schools’ dietary guidelines and budgets, while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced and healthy choices. With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than 11 million participating in the National School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more important than ever. http://www.letsmove.gov/chefs-move-schools
DAVIS STREET SCHOOL TAKES CMT TESTS TO A NEW LEVEL
Davis Street School Connects CMT’s with CMT’s (Chefs Move To Schools)!
What: In conjunction with the end of National School Breakfast Week and the Connecticut Mastery Test; Davis Street School teamed up with New Haven School Food Services to bring a dynamic program into the school. Working with Michelle Obama’s Chefs Move to Schools Program, UCONN Dietetics Program, Yale University Lacrosse Team and the School Nutrition Association’s School Breakfast Detective’s contest the children will listen to two speakers talking about the importance of physical activity and healthy eating.
Prizes will also be awarded to the students who participated and won the school level “School Breakfast Detective” Book Cover contest. The top three winners will be entered into a national contest.
Agenda:
Hot Healthy Breakfast served
“The Importance of Breakfast”: Alfonso Costa, Yale Lacrosse Player
“Healthy Eating” food demo & presentation with Chef Jeff Schack
Award Ceremony for the top “School Breakfast Detective” Book Covers
On Tuesday March 8th, the Food Systems Network of NYC has invited Chef Tim to present on a panel of Nationally Reknowned School Meal Experts to discuss the proposed USDA standards for school meals that were introduced on January 13th. The seminar will begin with a tour of La Marqueta, the recently renovated market space in East Harlem, which houses the newly opened kitchen incubator run by Hot Bread Kitchen.
The USDA proposal requires school meal standards, which would add more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk to school meals, and are based on the most recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations. Schools would also be required to limit the levels of saturated fat, sodium, calories, and trans fats in meals. The panel will discuss the possibilities for improved meal quality for our public school students.
Directions: La Marqueta is located on Park Avenue, directly under the Metro North tracks, between 114th and 115th Streets. The nearest subway stop is the 6 at 116th Street. Exit on Lexington Avenue, walk 1 block west to Park Avenue and turn left. You will see the entrance to the front of La Marqueta on 115th Street—continue 1 block south, past the entrance, to 114th Street. The entrance is in the back of the building in the loading area, please ring bell for entry.
Panel Location: We will walk over to the East Harlem Asthma Center for the panel discussion after the tour.
East Harlem Asthma Center for Excellence (EHACE)
161-169 East 110th Street (between Lexington Ave and Third Ave)
On the first anniversary of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign to fight childhood obesity, New Haven Public Schools is launching an exciting health initiative, Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools!Thanks to NatureSeal and the United Fresh Produce Association Foundation, New Haven has been awarded two salad bars, which will give students an unlimited selection of fresh produce during lunch each day. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro & US Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Dr. Janey Thornton will speak with students and administrators about this initiative and join students for a trip through the salad bar. For more information on the national Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools, visit http://saladbars2schools.org/.
When: Thursday, February 3, 2011
11:00am-12:30pm
Where: Mauro-Sheridan Science, Technology and Communications School
Today, three (3) Connecticut organizations, the Connecticut Dietetics Association (CDA), End Hunger CT! (EHC!), and the School Nutrition Association of CT (SNACT) banded together to talk about Child Nutrition with our legislators in Hartford.
This breakfast meeting was the first of its kind for Child Nutrition Professionals in CT and was a great opportunity to come to the Legislative Office Building next to the State Capitol and find out how you can help CT's legislators understand child nutrition programs. Talking points and first timer tips were made available.
The agenda was chock full of speakers from the three organizations talking about advocacy and how to talk to your legislators. The presentations were very upbeat and kept the participants fully engaged for an hour until the Legislative Breakfast was to begin. The room was full of child nutrition professionals and many Dietetic Students from area colleges and Universities. The training session began with:
Madeleine Diker, Food Service Director for Cheshire Schools and the State Public Policy Coordinator for SNACT reviewed the 2011 CT Legislative Issue Paper.
Dawn Crayco, Deputy Director of EHC! and Teresa Dotson, Puplic Policy Coordinator for CDA reviewed the talking points for the day.
Cindy Brooks, Food Service Director of Seymour Public Schools & Public Policy & Legislation Committee Chair for School Nutrition Association gave "First Timer' tips to the attendees.
At 9:20 am the first collaborative Legislative Action Breakfast for School Nutrition in CT officially began with the following speakers from the three organizations discussing the importance of child nutrition:
Colleen Thompson, President of CDA
Eileen Faustich, President of SNACT & Food Service Director for Milford Schools
Lucy Nolan, Executive Director of EHC!
Lucy Nolan had the distinct pleasure to introduce Senate Pro Tem Donald Williams.
SIDE NOTE: Senator Williams has been a champion of Child Nutrition issues for many years and at just about the same time CDA, EHC! and SNACT organized this breakfast Senator Williams reached out to me to discuss how the CT Legislature can support everything that we, Child Nutrition Professionals, do with our programs that will cost very little to do. The state of CT like every other state is facing huge budget gaps and needs to find creative ways to make changes and also find creative ways to support Child Nutrition in CT. We met several times and instead of reinventing the wheel Senator Williams decided we could piggyback of the Let's Move Program developed by the First Lady...Let's Move Connecticut was born.
Senator Williams alerted everyone in the room that he started the day with a healthy breakfast of stove top oatmeal with walnuts. He then spoke of the challenges associated with operating a Child Nutrition Program (CNP) in CT and how unfunded mandates only make our jobs more difficult. He also mentioned that his wife is a school administrator and she speaks often of the challenges of getting the students through the line, having them sit and eat healthy foods (all for less than a couple bucks per meal) without fighting in the cafe and getting them back to class and somehow CNP's are supposed to also break even
The Senator brought up some very important points to remember as we move into a tough budget time; partnerships and close working relationships to get through tough times. One of the parnerships he spoke a lot about is the partnership CT is entering with the First Lady's Let's Move Program by rolling out Let's Move Connecticut. The basic jist is to have Let's Move Connecticut be the vehicle to keep CT not only at the forefront of child nutrition but to continue to lead the way. Let's Move Connecticut will include bringing in Registered Dietitians into Schools, working with Chefs Move to Schools and getting CT schools signed up with the Healthier US School Challenge (HUSSC). Estimates out there suggest that as many as 2/3 of CT's schools will qualify already for the HUSSC.
The Farm to School Program is popular in CT and local food in CT adds $3 billion to the economy so this is a program that more school districts can become actively involved in!
CT is last in the country for student participation in the breakfast program and Let's Move Connecticut and its partners will support efforts to increase these numbers. (FRAC School Breakfast Report Card 2009-2010)
Let's Move Connecticut will be the collaborative that is organized to begin training programs for school nutrition workers when the USDA allocates those funds. Let's Move Connecticut will be ready to work with school nutrition programs to adapt to the new dietary guidelines. Let's Move Connecticut will be the driving force supporting school nutrition programs in CT.
The Senator wrapped up his comments by alerting the attendees to think outside the box, he then thanked everyone for their commitment to feeding our children.
Senator Williams then took questions from the audience:
Beth Gankofskie, Food Service Director of Mansfield Schools: "Should we, as attendees who are going to visit our legislators promote the current CT Nutrition Standards and ask them to keep the current funding stream intact?" The Senator highly encouraged the attendees to speak about the importance of feeding kids healthier foods and how if that funding was eliminated how programs would be forced to serving less than desirable food again.
Alan Belchak, Food Service Director of West Haven Schools: "In the 1980's CT was given a block grant to supplement school meal funding. That grant was for $2.35 million dollars and at the time offerred an $.08 per lunch reimbursement. Since that time our meal participation has increased dramatically and the reimbursement is currently about $.04 per lunch served. Will we see an increase in the amount of that grant anytime soon?" The Senator explained how CT received that funding and reiterated that with the current fiscal crisis that block grant will remain the same and how CT like many other states are fighting to stay in check.
Let's Move Connecticut will also be the collaborative that is organized to begin training programs for school nutrition workers when the USDA allocates those funds. Let's Move Connecticut will be ready to work with school nutrition programs to adapt to the new dietary guidelines. Let's Move Connecticut will be the driving force supporting school nutrition programs in CT.
Most importantly from a Childhood Hunger standpoint, this program ties into and supports President Obama's pledge to end childhood hunger by 2015 and aligns perfectly with Connecticut's No Kid Hungry Campaign to End Childhood Hunger. Go to http://www.nokidhungry.org/ to take the PLEDGE!
Timothy Cipriano, Local Food Dude, End Hunger CT!, School Nutrition Association, Let's Move!, Chefs Move to Schools, Timothy Cipriano, Local Food Dude, End Hunger CT!, School Nutrition Association, Let's Move!, Chefs Move to Schools, Timothy Cipriano, Local Food Dude, End Hunger CT!, School Nutrition Association, Let's Move!, Chefs Move to Schools, Timothy Cipriano, Local Food Dude, End Hunger CT!, School Nutrition Association, Let's Move!, Chefs Move to Schools, Timothy Cipriano, Local Food Dude, End Hunger CT!, School Nutrition Association, Let's Move!, Chefs Move to Schools, Timothy Cipriano, Local Food Dude, End Hunger CT!, School Nutrition Association, Let's Move!, Chefs Move to Schools, Timothy Cipriano, Local Food Dude, End Hunger CT!, School Nutrition Association, Let's Move!, Chefs Move to Schools, Timothy Cipriano, Local Food Dude, End Hunger CT!, School Nutrition Association, Let's Move!, Chefs Move to Schools, Timothy Cipriano, Local Food Dude, End Hunger CT!, School 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PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS HEALTHY, HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT OF 2010 INTO LAW
First Lady Michelle Obama, Administration Officials and Let’s Move! Advocates Reaffirm Commitment to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids
“Today is a great day for kids throughout our country as they will soon have healthier, and more nutritious food in their schools. As we continue to focus on the twin issues of childhood obesity and hunger, we will increase access to good, quality meals in school cafeterias so the nutritional needs of our youngsters are better met. The President and First Lady have advocated strongly for passing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, and, this bill, along with the resources and the powers provided under it, are going to allow USDA to be much more effective and aggressive in responding to obesity and hunger challenges for America’s kids.”
- U.S. Secretary Of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
“The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is a significant step forward in our effort to help America's children thrive and grow to be healthy adults. Thanks to the dedication of this Congress and First Lady Michelle Obama, more kids will have access to healthy, balanced, nutritious school lunches. By increasing the number of students eligible to enroll in school meal programs and improving the quality of food served, this legislation simultaneously tackles both hunger and the obesity levels currently affecting too many communities across this nation.”
-U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius
"The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act makes the most significant investment in the National School Lunch program in more than 30 years. I look forward to continuing to work with the First Lady and Secretary Vilsack to combat our national childhood obesity epidemic and increase students access to the nutritional food they need to help them learn.”
- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
“As Vice Chair of the Partnership for a Healthier America, I join President Obama and the First Lady in celebrating the signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. This bi-partisan legislation will significantly enhance the quality of food for our children for generations to come and is a dramatic step forward in reducing childhood obesity. As a physician, I know smart nutrition leads to healthy and productive lives. With 36.5% of our children in Tennessee being overweight, this act goes a long way in ensuring that kids in Tennessee and around the country will have the healthy nutrition they deserve.”
- U.S. Senator Bill Frist (R-TN)
“Childhood and adult obesity are national problems and growing epidemics, but the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will help end this epidemic by improving the quality of food served to our children in schools across the nation. Here in Newark, we are defeating childhood and adult obesity, by partnering with organizations and community leaders to create local-based change that empowers families, neighborhoods and youth to embrace a healthier lifestyle. I applaud First Lady Michelle Obama’s commitment to the children of our city and across the country.”
- Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark, New Jersey
“On behalf of Mission: Readiness and over 100 retired generals and admirals who support child nutrition legislation as a matter of national security, we are very pleased that the nation has taken this important step in addressing the nation’s obesity epidemic. Being overweight or obese is the No. 1 medical reason why young men and women are unable to join the military. Research shows that up to 40 percent of what children consume every day takes place during school hours and that 80 percent of children who were overweight between the ages of 10 to 15 were obese by age 25. The final bill includes provisions that can get junk food out of schools, nourish more kids who need healthful meals and motivate them and their parents to adopt healthful eating and exercise habits. Military concerns about the fitness of American children are not new. When the National School Lunch Act was first passed in 1946, it was seen as a matter of national security. At the time many military leaders recognized that poor nutrition was a significant factor reducing the pool of qualified candidates for service. Our country is facing another serious health crisis. Obesity rates threaten the overall health of America and the future strength of our military. We must act, as we did after World War II, to ensure that our children can one day defend our country, if need be.”
-Retired Army Generals John M. Shalikashvili and Hugh Shelton, Former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
“Congratulations to First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and to the bi-partisan support in the Congress to pass the Healthy, Hunger Free Children Act. By passing a bill that addresses the nutritional quality of school lunches, an important step is being taken to give children choices that will make them healthier and more productive.”
-Mike Huckabee, Governor of Arkansas 1996-2007
“The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act makes significant progress toward ending child hunger and obesity by expanding access to federal child nutrition programs and improving the nutritional value they provide. In addition to reauthorizing federal child nutrition programs, the act will help address childhood obesity by reducing the fat and calorie content of school meals. Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic in a single generation – as First Lady Michelle Obama has called upon our nation to do – won’t be easy. It will require a long-term, sustained commitment to attacking this issue across multiple fronts. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act makes great strides toward eliminating this threat to our children's health.”
- O. Marion Burton, MD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics
“The historic signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act helps schools become part of the solution to the childhood obesity epidemic. It is a victory for American parents working to make sure their kids grow up healthy, and for schools wanting to provide students with more nutritious meals and a healthier environment. With the implementation of this law, our nation's kids will be less likely to grow up with early risk factors for heart disease and stroke.”
-Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer, American Heart Association
“Today marks a major step forward in efforts to prevent both childhood obesity and hunger among our nation’s children. The signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law is a long-awaited victory for the 31 million students who participate in federal school meal programs. By giving the USDA the authority to update standards for all foods and beverages in schools, this new law says unhealthy foods have no place in our nation’s schools. And schools finally will have more resources to serve nutritious and appealing meals.”
- Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
“Getting junk food out of schools has been ten years in the making. This bill is a historic step toward reducing childhood obesity and helping parents' feed their children better. It's the result of the hard work of many, but would not have passed without this Administration. The President's leadership and First Lady's tireless advocacy brought the child nutrition bill back to life a number of times as it made its way through Congress.”
-Margo G. Wootan, Director of Nutrition Policy, Center for Science in the Public Interest
“The School Nutrition Association joins families nationwide in thanking President Obama, the First Lady and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for their sustained efforts to pass child nutrition reauthorization and expand children’s access to healthy school meals. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act recognizes the importance of school meals to the health and academic success of America’s children and gives school nutrition programs critical resources to bring more fresh produce, whole grains and low-fat dairy products into cafeterias. School nutrition professionals look forward to working with the Administration, parents, principals and community leaders to meet new nutrition standards for school meals and explore new avenues for promoting healthy lifestyles for our children.”
- Nancy Rice, M.Ed., RD, LD, SNS, President, School Nutrition Association (SNA)
“The provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will support efforts already underway in Dallas. The additional funding will help with continuing to improve our school meals and creating a healthier school environment. We appreciate the fact that child nutrition has been placed as a high priority by the First Lady and the President. New USDA meal patterns and professional standards will assure improved quality child nutrition programs for our children which in turn will support student academic performance in the classroom.”
-Dora Rivas, MS, RD, SNS, Executive Director, Food & Child Nutrition Services, Dallas Independent School District
“Our kids aren’t hungry because we lack food or because of a lack of food and nutrition programs. They are hungry because they lack access to programs that provide the nutritious food they need to grow and thrive. I would like to thank the President and First Lady for making Child Nutrition a top priority. Through their leadership and commitment we now have the first significant change in school meals in thirty years. This legislation is historic and will allow me to continue to offer more real foods to the kids in our schools.”
- Timothy Cipriano, Executive Director of Food Services, New Haven Public Schools
“The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signals a deep commitment to our nation's children and provides increased access to the food and nutrition programs that often go underutilized. Our kids aren't hungry because we lack food or because of a lack of food and nutrition programs. They are hungry because they lack access to the nutritious food they need to grow and thrive. The First Lady’s persistence made all the difference between this legislation’s good intentions and its becoming the law of the land.”
-Bill Shore, Founder and Executive Director, Share Our Strength
“This bill is an acknowledgement that in a nation as bountiful as ours, no child should worry about when their next meal will be. We are grateful for the hard work of our coalition partners, the White House, and Congress.”
-Rabbi Steve Gutow, President, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Co-Chair Fighting Poverty with Faith
"This bill is an exciting victory for hungry children. After a largely gridlocked year, passage of this bill is a positive sign that Congress can work together in the best interests of Americans."
-Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
“This critical legislation ensures that more of our nation’s children have access to healthy nutritious food and reaffirms our commitment as a nation to addressing the problem of childhood hunger. It is unacceptable that one in four children in poverty in America are hungry. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is an essential step in helping the 43.6 million American families who struggle every day to feed their children.”
- Father Larry Snyder, President, Catholic Charities USA, Co-chair Fighting Poverty with Faith
“Today's signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is something to celebrate, whether you are one of the 31 million schoolchildren who stand to benefit from it, or their parents, or America’s farmers. The bill establishes sensible nutrition standards for the food sold in school that will help push the junk food out of the building and make it easier for kids to have access to a nutritious meal or snack in school. The increase in funding for school lunch may be modest, yet it is also the first such increase in sixty years—a long-overdue recognition of the importance of the school lunch program in assuring the health of our children. The bill also recognizes the value of linking farms directly to schools as a way to get the freshest, tastiest vegetables and fruits into the cafeteria—a boon to both children and local farmers. The bill represents an important achievement for the First Lady’s Let’s Move! campaign, and the First Lady and her team are to be congratulated. It is also a victory for all the grass roots organizations and activists who work so hard to improve access to healthy food for everyone. There is still much to be done, but what has happened today marks a significant step forward, toward a food system that puts the health of our children first.”
–Michael Pollan, Author and Journalism Professor
“The way we feed our children today will dictate the country we have tomorrow. This was much more than a bipartisan effort. With the First Lady’s leadership, parents, teachers, child advocates and chefs all helped to pass a bill that will provide a children with what should be a fundamental right: the right to be fed in a healthy way. While I am happy we were able to squeeze a few more dollars for school lunch programs, I think we can do better. We need to band together on these issues to make sure we don’t shortchange our kids.”
“From the First Lady’s Chefs Move to Schools initiative to the President’s Childhood Nutrition bill, the Obama Administration has instigated a much-needed attitude change towards proper nutrition. As a chef and as a mother of four, I understand the importance of providing my own children with wholesome meals and firmly believe that all of our nation’s children should be afforded the same opportunity to grow up healthy which is why this legislation is so important.”
-Cat Cora, Founder, “Chefs for Humanity” and UNICEF spokesperson
“I am pleased to support President and Mrs. Obama and the efforts of their Administration in securing healthier nutrition for this nation's children. We still have much work to do to guarantee that all Americans have access to adequate, high-quality food, but the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is an important first step in that direction."
-Tom Colicchio, Chef/Restaurateur and Host of Top Chef
Thanks to our good friend Kristen Manicelli from CityHarvest in NYC for this update:
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to share the latest update on CNR. There was an hour debate in the House on 3307 yesterday afternoon. Republicans generally criticized the bill for increasing government spending, and Democrats generally supported it for improving nutrition and programs for kids. There were mentions of the SNAP offset from both sides: Rep McGovern said he’d work with the Administration to replace the funds, and there was criticism from the Republican side that the SNAP extension itself, and thus the portion of it used in 3307, was “borrowed money”. A number of members spoke of specific provisions in the bill. You can watch the debate in archive video at this link http://houselive.gov/.
Republicans were allowed one amendment, and Rep Kline proposed a change to the section on CACFP requiring background checks for child care workers providing meals. Because any change to the bill would require it go back to the Senate, this move was intended to prevent the bill from passage. (This is technically called a “Motion to Recommit”, or MTR, meaning ‘recommit’ the bill to committee.)
As a result of the MTR Leadership postponed the vote on 3307 until tomorrow, with a plan described in House Majority Leader Hoyer’s statement: "We will complete action on the Child Nutrition bill tomorrow. We will bring up the Republican motion to recommit as a stand alone suspension bill. After that vote, we will return to the Child Nutrition bill where we left off, voting on the motion to recommit and final passage. This will allow a good, bipartisan bill to reach the President's desk without delay."
There remains no “plan” to restore SNAP funds in the lame duck session, as many groups are calling for. (Tim's Note: Congresswoman DeLauro, in her speech on the floor of the House yesterday specifically mentioned working with the White House to restore the SNAP cuts. Click HERE for the audio)
The situation is complex and changing rapidly. Many of you have been in touch over the past days with questions, and if you haven’t but would like more information or clarification, please contact me. I am truly happy to help!
Thanks!
Kristen
_______________________
Kristen Mancinelli, MS, RD
Senior Manager, Policy and Government Relations
City Harvest
Tim's Note: KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THE VOTE HAPPENS TODAY AND CONGRESS VOTES YES!
01:39:24 I THANK THE GENTLEMAN, AND I MIGHT JUST SAY TO THE PRIOR SPEAKER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE TO CUT FOOD FOR KIDS IN OUR COUNTRY.
01:39:46 THEY VOTED TO CUT THE TAX CUTS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THE CORPORATE SPECIAL INTERESTS IN THIS NATION, WHICH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE SEEMS TO HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH.
01:39:55 I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS RULE, THE HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT REPRESENTS A LONG OVERDUE, A MUCH-NEEDED RECOMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH AND TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR SCHOOLCHILDREN.
01:40:07 WE ALL KNOW THE DOUBLE-EDGE PROBLEM THAT MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE CURRENTLY FACE.
01:40:13 TODAY'S KIDS ARE THREATENED BY BOTH THE GROWING OBESITY EPIDEMIC AND FAR TOO MANY STRUGGLING FAMILIES IN THIS ECONOMY ARE FACING HUNGER.
01:40:23 AND ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT, ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR YOUNG ADULTS ARE TOO OVERWEIGHT TO SERVE IN OUR MILITARY.
01:40:31 AT THE SAME TIME, ACCORDING TO THE FOOD RESEARCH ACTION CENTER, ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN EXPERIENCE FOOD HARDSHIPS THIS YEAR, MEANING THEY DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THE FOOD THEIR FAMILIES NEEDED.
01:40:45 DON'T LET PEOPLE FOOL YOU WITH WORDS LIKE FOOD HARDSHIP AND FOOD INSECURITY.
01:40:51 IT RESULTS IN HUNGER.
01:40:53 KIDS IN THIS NATION ARE GOING TO BED HUNGRY EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
01:41:00 THIS BILL MARKS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD AGAINST BOTH FRONTS OF THIS DANGEROUS MOVEMENT BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO ALL SCHOOLCHILDREN.
01:41:08 EMPHASIZING GOOD NUTRITION FOR THIS BILL WILL REDUCE HUNGER.
01:41:11 IT WILL REDUCE OBESITY.
01:41:13 THE HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT WILL ADD $115 -- 115,000 NEW STUDENTS INTO THE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM.
01:41:22 IT USES MEDICAID DATA TO CERTIFY ELIGIBLE KIDS.
01:41:25 IT WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 21 MILLION MEALS A YEAR BY REIMBURSING PROVIDERS FOR AFTER-SCHOOL MEALS TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN.
01:41:35 WHILE EXPANDING ACCESS TO MEAL PROGRAMS, THIS BILL WORKS TO IMPROVE THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF ALL THE FOOD IN OUR SCHOOLS.
01:41:43 IT SETS NATIONAL NUTRITION STANDARDS THAT WILL FINALLY GET ALL OF THE JUNK FOOD INFILTRATING OUR CLASSROOMS AND AND FOR THOSE SCHOOLS WHO OUR CAFETERIAS OUT THE DOOR.
01:41:55 COMPLY WITH THESE REVISED NUTRITION STANDARDS, IT PROVIDES THE FIRST REAL REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASE.
01:42:03 SIX CENTS A MEAL.
01:42:05 AND THAT IS THE LARGEST 30 YEARS.
01:42:07 INCREASE WE HAVE SEEN IN OVER THIS BILL WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN THE FAR-TO-SCHOOL NETWORK SO THAT MORE HEALTHY PRODUCE, LOCAL FOOD, EVEN THE FOODS THAT ARE GROWN IN THE SCHOOL GARDEN CAN FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE MENUS.
01:42:23 OUR KIDS CONSUME ROUGHLY 35% TO 50% OF THEIR DAILY CALORIES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
01:42:29 BY PASSING THIS BILL WE CAN HELP SEE THAT THEY ARE GETTING ENOUGH NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO STAY HEALTHY, TO GROW, TO LEARN, TO SUCCEED, AND GIVEN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE, I KNOW SOME WILL ASK -- HOW CAN WE AFFORD THIS BILL?
01:42:45 I SAY, HOW CAN WE AFFORD NOT TO PASS IT?
01:42:49 LEAVING MILLIONS OF CHILDREN HUNGRY, MALNOURISHED IN THE NAME OF BUDGET CUTTING IS PENNY-WISE, POUND FOOLISH, ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE WHO WILL SAY LET'S PROVIDE THE RICHEST 2% OF THOSE IN THIS NATION WITH A TAX CUT AND OVER $00,000 A YEAR.
01:43:09 THEY'RE EATING WELL.
01:43:10 THEY'RE EATING HIGH ON THE HOG AND KIDS ARE GOING TO BED HUNGRY EVERY NIGHT IN OUR NATION.
01:43:16 COUNTLESS STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT KIDS WITH ACCESS TO A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST PERFORM WELL, DO BETTER IN SCHOOL.
01:43:22 FROM THE VERY BEGINNING I HAVE BEEN WORKING AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO FEDERAL AID, INCLUDING THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE CHILDREN.
01:43:33 WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO THE NUTRITION THEY NEED FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE.
01:43:39 USING THE FOOD STAMP MONEY FOR AN OFFSET -- THANK YOU.
01:43:42 USING THE FOOD STAMP MONEY AS AN OFFSET IS A TIME WHEN ONE IN FIVE KIDS RECEIVED FOOD STAMP ASSISTANCE MOVES US AWAY FROM NEVERTHELESS, THIS LEGISLATION THAT GOAL.
01:43:52 IS A BIG STEP FORWARD.
01:43:53 I FOR ONE AND OTHERS HAVE SAID WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH, TO SEE THAT THE SNAP FUNDING IS RESTORED.
01:44:00 WE WILL WORK WITH THE WHITE HOUSE TO MAKE SURE THOSE FUNDS ARE RESTORED, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE CONGRESS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TODAY AND PLEDGE TO FIGHT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE ALL KIDS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE RESOURCES HAVE THE ACCESSIBILITY TO GAIN THESE RESOURCES.
01:44:21 I URGE MY COLLEAGUES, VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RULE.
01:44:24 NOTHING THAT WE DO IN THIS BODY IS AS IMPORTANT THAN ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN, OR GRANDCHILDREN AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICANS HAVE THE TOOLS, THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE NUTRITION THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE AND TO SUCCEED.
01:44:38 OUR KIDS DESERVE NO LESS.
01:44:40 .
01:44:40 THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
Congresswoman DeLauro- On behalf of all the children in this country, THANK YOU!
The New Haven Public Schools award winning, nationally recognized food service program is searching for a Registered Dietician/ Nutritionist. Working under Chef Timothy Cipriano, Executive Director of Food Services, the ideal candidate will have a Masters degree or higher in Dietetics or Nutrition, a Culinary background and experience working with children. This is a full time, 12 month position with excellent benefits and pay commensurate with experience.
The Dietician/Nutritionist will work closely with other NH School Food staff members to develop and implement recommendations to improve the nutritional value of the food we serve to our 20,000+ students daily. The Dietician/Nutritionist will serve as a resource to staff members in the department by working on select projects throughout the year that are aimed at increasing the nutritional quality of food and educating staff, parents and community partners on the critical importance of a nutritious diet.
NH School Food counts cooking with REAL food as its highest priority, and is prepared to strengthen its commitment even more so. In recent years, NH School Food has made big steps to cook with more nutritious and local ingredients. In 2010 we have purchased over 140,000 pounds of produce from CT farms and our goal is to increase that number every year.
NATURE OF WORK
Responsible for the nutrient analysis of New Haven Public Schools menus, nutrition education activities in all schools, and increasing participation in the school breakfast program. Works with students, school staff and parents to assist with prescribed special diets for students. Works with farm to school coordinator on farm activities. Reports to Executive Director of Food Services.
NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS
Graduation from a master degree program or higher Preferred in Nutrition or Dietetics. Registered Dietitian or Certified Nutritionist. A minimum of 5 years of experience in the nutrition field. Experience in teaching and conducting training programs. Basic knowledge of computer systems. Ability to work with computerized nutritional information systems. Sensitive to diverse cultures.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Certification requirements: Registered Dietitian or Certified Nutritionist
NOTE: The above description covers the principal duties and responsibilities of the job. The description should not, however, be construed as a complete listing of all miscellaneous, incidental, or similar duties including but not limited to day-to-day duties.
To apply email your cover letter, resume and salary requirements to timothy.cipriano@new-haven.k12.CT.us with the subject line Dietician/Nutritionist position. PHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
On behalf of the students of NHPS I'd like to say many thank you's to Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Pat Dillon, Dr. Mayo, Will Clark, USDA, CSDE, Barnard Environmental Magnet School team, CARE, our community partners and all the CHEFS who helped kick-off Health Heroes & Chefs Move to Schools. Yesterday was a fantastic day and we ad Chefs kept the students engaged as we spoke to and educated them on the importance of eating real foods.
The students had the opportunity to participate in cooking demos and some classes were read stories about real food and farming.
The cooking demo classes were able to sample the ABC's & Y & Z's of food: Apple skin spaghetti (Congresswoman DeLauro & Chef Tim), Black bean hummus (Chef Eric Pasquale), Chevre crostini with heirloom tomatoes (Chefs Dan Bathelder, Glen Brunetti & Ana Jaramillo); Carrot story and tasting session (Chef Tagan Engel), Yogurt smoothies (Chef Dave Prescott) and Zesty green goddess pasta Chefs Matt & Peter Weichner).
Chef Tim of NH School Food was pleased with the day, "The look of excitement on a child's face when a Chef walks into the room is priceless. The most amazing thing with yesterday is we prove the naysayers that say kids won't eat vegetables or are unwilling to try new foods wrong. Even the students who were adamantly opposed sampled the food and enjoyed them. Look, when you put together a delicious offering and present it to the children with a positive attitude the kids will try it and 9 times out of 10 like it!"
Thanks to the strong commitment of our Food Service Team NH School Food is leading the way to cooking & preparing better, healthier foods in the schools everyday. Our children are being exposed to foods they may have never been exposed too. Our workers are working with MORE fresh fruits and vegetables, many from local farms, than they ever have before! The strong commitment to TEAMWORK expressed by the staff comes through on the face of the children daily when they take their first bite of an ear of corn from a farm 8 miles up the road.
The NH School Food Community can take solace in that NH School Food is working closely with USDA to become the first school district in CT with the largest number of Gold with Distinction Healthier US School Challenge schools in CT. We are committed to the future health and well being of the students in our schools and are looking forward to working with USDA and CSDE as we re-evaluate our menus, health education and physical activity in our schools.
In the words of our First Lady Michelle Obama, "Let's Move!"
Stay tuned to this blog and our website http://www.nhps.net/ for exciting things happening with the country's most progressive school food program.
Chef Timothy Cipriano, Executive Director of Food Services for New Haven Public Schools has been invited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to attend the inaugural class of Produce Safety University (PSU) August 9-13 to help refine the class before they open it up to other school food service directors. The class will be held at the USDA Training Center in Fredericksburg, VA. The class is being organized and administered by the National Food Service Management Institute (NFSMI). All expenses will be paid for by USDA.
Chef Tim is one of 4 school food service directors nationwide attending the class (Sharlene Wong from Wallingford Schools is also attending) along state agency administrators from many states nationwide. PSU is designed to educate both school food service directors and state agency administrators about food safety when utilizing fresh produce. With the large influx of farm to school programs and with more districts shifting to fresh produce, USDA is being proactive by starting this class to educate the operators. With the recent increase in food safety recalls, this class will help point out the warning signs to look for. In addition the class will talk about Good Agriculture Practices, items the school food service director should look for when choosing farms to work with as well as a discussion on Good Handling Practices. Other topics will include seasonal purchasing, school gardens, farm to school programs and preventing contamination of fresh produce in the flow of food.
This invitation is another step forward for New Haven Public Schools. The USDA is once again turning to NHPS for help. In SY 08-09 we were a pilot district for whole grain products; last school year we were chosen to participate in 2 separate studies: one to look at our menu items and the other to track our food buying habits to help define new food buying trends.
We are leading the way of not only offering more real, made from scratch foods but also showing that the kids are interested and consuming the foods. Our participation has increased every year in the past 2 school years and we see the trend continuing as we introduce new and exciting kid friendly products.
“Systematic change in needed in this country to control childhood obesity and to educate our children on proper nutrition and choosing REAL foods. Farm to School and school gardens are the impetus for this change.” says Cipriano. “It is very easy to engage children with food, real food from local farms. But it is also very important to make sure, as school food operators, that the food is safe. I am very happy to be working with USDA and NFSMI to refine this course, the real beneficiary will be the children.”
