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Child Nutrition


USDA Training Benefits Child Nutrition Program, Increases Access to Healthy Meals

August 18, 2015 Hans Billger, Public Affairs Specialist, Food and Nutrition Service

The following guest blog highlights the important work of one of our nation’s many hardworking child nutrition professionals. As a recent participant in USDA’s Team Up for School Nutrition Success Initiative, Thomas J. Smith learned about best practices, strategies and resources to ensure healthy...

Food and Nutrition

New Web Application Helps Families Find Summer Meals in Their Communities

July 01, 2015 Audrey Rowe, Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service

USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, a federally-funded, state-administered program, last year served more than 187 million meals to children in low-income areas to ensure that they continued to receive proper nutrition throughout the summer when schools were closed. But that number represents just a...

Food and Nutrition

USDA, Partners Seek Creative Ways to Boost Flavor with Less Sodium for our Students

May 21, 2015 Amanda Heitkamp, Public Affairs Specialist, Food and Nutrition Service

Sodium, the major nutrient found in salt, is essential to maintain blood volume, regulate water balance in cells, and aid nerve function. According to the American Heart Association, however, too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, congestive...

Food and Nutrition

Lessons Learned from a Food Service Director: Kids Like Healthy Foods

May 12, 2015 Brooke Hardison, USDA Office of Communications

The following guest blog is part of our Cafeteria Stories series, highlighting the efforts of hard working school nutrition professionals who are dedicated to making the healthy choice the easy choice at schools across the country. We thank them for sharing their stories! By Sharon Foley, Food...

Food and Nutrition

Chef Leverages USDA Team Nutrition Grant to Develop Healthy Menus for Students

April 30, 2015 Hans Billger, Public Affairs Specialist, Food and Nutrition Service

The following guest blog highlights the important work of Chef Brenda Thompson, RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist). Thanks to a USDA Team Nutrition grant, she developed recipes for the Chef Designed School Lunch cookbook. Chef Brenda is currently working with the Idaho State Department on the...

Food and Nutrition

Summer Meals: Its Success Depends on All of Us

March 05, 2015 Audrey Rowe, Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service

Every day, millions of students are able to enjoy a nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunch thanks to the National School Lunch Program. Everyday they’re in school, that is. But what happens to these children when school lets out during the summer? That’s when vital programs offered by USDA’s...

Food and Nutrition

What's Cooking? USDA Mixing Bowl: A Collection of Recipes for Schools and Child Care Centers

February 23, 2015 Cheryl Jackson Lewis, Director, Nutrition Promotion and Technical Assistance Division, Child Nutrition Programs, USDA FNS

This is the third installment of the What’s Cooking? Blog Series. In honor of the Let’s Move 5 th Anniversary, and the commitment USDA shares with Let’s Move to promote healthy eating and access to healthy foods, this month-long series will high­­light the various features of the What’s Cooking...

Food and Nutrition Initiatives

What's Cooking with USDA Foods?

February 18, 2015 Lindsay Walle, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Food Distribution Division

This is the second installment of the What’s Cooking? Blog Series . In honor of the Let’s Move 5 th Anniversary, and the commitment USDA shares with Let’s Move to promote healthy eating and access to healthy foods, this month-long series will high­­light the various features of the What’s Cooking...

Food and Nutrition Initiatives

Let's Move Into the Kitchen and See What's Cooking

February 04, 2015 Shelley Maniscalco, MPH, RD, Director, Office of Nutrition Marketing and Communications, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

This is the first installment of the What’s Cooking? Blog Series . In honor of the Let’s Move 5 th Anniversary, and the commitment USDA shares with Let’s Move to promote healthy eating and access to healthy foods, this month-long series will high­­light the various features of the What’s Cooking...

Food and Nutrition Initiatives

Initial Launch of the Team Up for School Nutrition Success Training Program

December 22, 2014 Dr. Janey Thornton, Deputy Undersecretary for the USDA Food Nutrition and Consumer Services

Feeding students healthy, tasty and nutritious school meals can be a challenge. Just ask any one of the thousands of school nutrition professionals who carry out the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. They have to balance menu planning following nutrition standards...

Food and Nutrition
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