Maryland School Nutrition Association

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

MSNA is a non-profit organization comprised of School Food Service Professionals in the state of Maryland. We are affiliated with the National School Nutrition Association which connects us to others across the nation with our same interest...

Child Nutrition Programs for all children.

News

USDA Unveils Final Meal Pattern Rule

January 25, 2012 -- USDA today released the final regulations updating the meal pattern for School Breakfast and Lunch. This is the first major change in school meals in over 15 years. SNA has provided talking points to help you if you are asked to comment on the meal pattern before you have a chance to read the details.

Final Rule

Excerpts from Final Rule
Chart Comparing Old Meal Pattern and New Meal Pattern
Implementation Time Line
Dietary Specifications

Information from SNA
Talking Points from SNA
SNA Press Release Regarding Release of Final School Meal Nutrition Standards
Letter from SNA's Legal Counsel Summarizing the New Regs

Information from USDA
USDA Press Release
USDA Q & A

SNA has created a Meal Pattern Resource Center to help SNA members get the latest information on the new Meal Pattern. You must be an SNA member and use your member login to access this information. It is available at http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Content.aspx?id=16630

Take Action!
Ask for Increased funding for Maryland Meals for Achievement

MSNA and Maryland Hunger Solutions are urging the Governor and the Interim State Superintendent of Schools to increase funding for the Maryland Meals for Achievement classroom breakfast porgram. You can add your voice to this effort by sending an email of support to the Governor's office. See the sample email document below to help you get started. Here are step-by-step instructions for sending your email:

1)      Open a new email and place “Funding Support for School Breakfast” in the subject line
2)      Address the email to governor@gov.state.md.us
3)      Add the following address to the cc line bsadusky@msde.state.md.us
4)      Open the attached word document, and highlight all of the text with your mouse
5)      Select copy from the tool bar
6)      Go back to your new email, point your cursor in the text box and select paste from the tool bar
7)      Update your contact information at the bottom of the email text
8)      Send the email

Sample EMAIL

News

"MyPlate" - New Icon for the Dietary Guidelines
The federal government has unveiled a new food icon, MyPlate, to remind consumers tomake healthier food choices. Click on the link above to see the icon and learn more about this new initiative.

SNA Announces New CEO

Federal Legislation

State Legislation
News from Annapolis
March 31, 2011 update on status of state bills relating to child nutrition programs

USDA Releases its 2010-2015 Strategic Plan
USDA's Strategic Plan for fiscal years (FY) 2010-2015 lays out key policy priorities and the strategies to achieve them.

Nutrition Misconceptions
The attendees at the March 2010 LAC in Washington, D.C. heard Dr. Keith-Thomas Ayoob, EDD, R.D., FADA, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York. Dr. Ayoob very directly addressed nutrition misconceptions frequently seen on the internet. He said science is the basis of nutrition and we should not be influenced by personal opinions or philosophy. Click here to download a PowerPoint presentation that highlights valid studies about allergies, food colors, hyperactivity, sugar, sodium, aspertame, etc. Mary Klatko, federal legislative chaiman, has requested the video from the conference which will be posted as soon as it is released. This is one you will not want to miss!