Maryland School Nutrition Association

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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.

SNA Commends Senate Passage of Child Nutrition Reauthorization;
But Calls on House to Make Critical Changes to the Bill
Visit SNA's website to learn more.

Convention 2010: School Meals Without Borders

It's time to start thinking about Convention 2010. Visit the Convention homepage to find out all about the convention, hotels, and more! Don't delay -- complete your registration today!

Also on the Convention homepage, members will find forms and information about the House of Delegates, Silent Auction, Chapter Booths, and other important convention activities.

Ready to enter the new Farm to Tray Contest? Click here to learn more and register on line!

2010-2011 Reimbursement Rates Announced

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service has published the reimbursement rates for the 2010-11 school year. The rates are effective as of July 1, 2010.

The basic rate (Section 4 and Section 11 funds) for paid lunch in the 48 contiguous states is 26¢ - an increase of one cent from last school year. Free lunches will be reimbursed at $2.72 per meal - up from $2.68 last year. Reduced price lunch reimbursement is now $2.32 up from $2.28 last year. Paid breakfast reimbursement rates remained the same at 26¢ and free breakfast is now $1.48 while reduced-price breakfast is now $1.18 in non-severe need districts. In severe need districts, free breakfast is now $1.76 and reduced-price breakfast is $1.46.

The rate for donated foods is 20.25 cents per meal – an increase of 0.75 cents from last year. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) rate for paid breakfast and supper will be 0.26. Reduced price breakfast and supper will be 1.18 and 2.32. Free breakfast will be 1.48 and supper will be 2.72.

See the Federal Legislative Page for more information.

Child Nutrition Fitness Initiative Breakfast Grant

Interested in expanding your school’s breakfast program? The Child Nutrition and Fitness Initiative Breakfast Grant program from General Mills Foodservice and National Dairy Council will award up to $3,000 to schools with students in grades K to 12 build their breakfast program. The program is open to schools within the United States who are enrolled in the Fuel up to Play 60 program (link to http://enroll.fueluptoplay60.com/) for the 2010-2011 school year. Grant applications are due Aug. 15. Learn more at http://enroll.fueluptoplay60.com/funds/Breakfast_Grant.php.

Agriculture Secretary Lauds School Meals in Op Ed

In an Op Ed published, Saturday, June 27, in The Sacramento Bee, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says school nutrition programs are "on the front line of efforts to improve child nutrition." Read the complete article.

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.

Final Report of Dietary Guidelines
Advisory Committee Released

The U.S. Departmet of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services have released the final report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The departments are soliciting input on the report. Learn more.

House Introduces its version of
Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill

The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee has introduced the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010. Click here to learn more.

SNA Update on Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

You may have seen the Good Morning America episode or other news reports on the "Fed Up with Lunch: The School Lunch Project" blog and the Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution show. Please know that SNA has been pitching the national networks with positive school lunch stories and working to get the facts out about school meals. We were on the phone with ABC throughout the day yesterday asking them to interview an SNA member, but they declined. As we pitch ABC on the need to show how schools nationwide are providing healthy food to students, it would be extremely helpful to point to viewer comments that speak to the successes of school meal programs in their area. SNA is encouraging members to post a short comment in response to this story - provide a specific example of how your program is serving a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, or any examples of scratch cooking, locally grown produce, etc.: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/HealthyLiving/jamie-oliver-blog-teacher-exposing-school-lunches-brilliant/story?id=10197695

In addition, SNA President Dora Rivas has submitted a guest blog article highlighting member success stories for the "Fed Up" blog. We have been told that the article will be posted this week, and we will be in touch as soon as it does.

Safety of School Meals

SNA President Dora Rivas is quoted in a USA Today article that updates status of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, a bill that addresses safety and nutritional content of School Meals.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln
Introduces Reauthorization Bill

On Wednesday, March 17, 2010, Senator Lincoln introduced the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act includes many critical improvements to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs which SNA has advocated for. Learn more at SNA's webiste.

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!

Ag Secretary Urges Congress
to Pass Strong Reauthorization Act

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack is advocating for the rapid passage of a strong reauthorization bill to reduce hunger and improve the health and nutrition of our nation’s children. Click here to read a February 23, 2010, press release on this topic.

Bill Would Provide Commodity Assistance for Breakfast

A bill (HR4638) introduced in the House of Representatives on February 23, 2010, would provide commodity credits for the School Breakfast Program. Details coming soon on this new initiative.

Learn about First Lady Obama's Childhood Obesity Initiative

The School Nutrition Association is proud to support First Lady Michelle Obama's childhood obesity initiative.
Click here to read about First Lady Obama's Let's Move initiative. Click here to view her webcast.

Reauthorization Update

On Tuesday, November 17, 2009, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing entitled “Reauthorization of U.S. Child Nutrition Programs: Opportunities to Fight Hunger and Improve Child Health.” Click here to read an overview of the pertinent information and a brief summary of the hearing.

Click here to read or listen to audio of Senator Lincoln's opening remarks at the November 17th hearning.

IOM Recommends Changes to Meal Pattern

the Institute Of Medicine (IOM) issued their recommendations for changes in the meal pattern based on the 2005 dietary guidelines. IOM was contracted by USDA to review all of the studies done by various groups and then determine recommendations to USDA.

The next step will be for USDA to review the IOM report. It is doubtful based on what was heard from SNA, that USDA will have a
comment period on the recommendations until after reauthorization is completed. For more information, click here.

Sen. Harkin Introduces Nutrition Standards Bill

On April 30, Sen. Harkin introduced a bill that would update the definition of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value to correspond with current nutrition science. This bill would also expand the time and place rule, allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to have authority over competitive foods (foods and beverages sold on the school campus during the school day that compete with the nutritious meals available through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.) Click here to learn more.

Click here to read a letter SNA President Katie Wilson sent to Senator Harkin regarding the bill.