Nebraska School Meals Update

The Summer Food Service Program for Children: Nutrition Guide for Sponsors was developed to help sponsors plan and serve menus with a variety of nutrient-rich foods and beverages, and operate a safe and successful food service during the summer months.

Summer Food, Summer Moves is a fun, hands-on resource kit designed to get kids and families excited about healthy eating and physical activity during the summer months. The kit is designed for use by summer meal site operators and focuses on using music, games, art, and movement to motivate kids and families to choose more fruits and vegetables, choose water instead of sugary drinks, get enough physical activity every day, and to limit screen time. Download the Summer Food, Summer Moves resource for your Summer Food Service Program today!

USDA policy memo SP 18-2024, CACFP 06-2024, SFSP 11-2024 provides details on pieces of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. The following restrictions continue into SY 24-25:

• Vegetables at Breakfast: vegetables from any subgroup can be credited at breakfast during SY 24-25
• Prohibition on Chicken & Seafood from China
• Low-fat or Fat-free Flavored Milk: either types are allowed
• Maintaining of Target 1A Sodium Limits: valid until Jun. 30, 2027

Mark Your Calendar for Summer Training Opportunities presented by the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) - Nutrition Services!

• New Bookkeeper Training – If you are new to the School Nutrition Programs Bookkeeper position, plan to attend our virtual comprehensive bookkeeper training on Thursday, June 27, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (CT). See the 2024 Bookkeeper Training Flyer to learn more about what this training offers, and to access the link to register for training in Zoom.

• School Year 24-25 Program Update: For All Bookkeepers – All School Nutrition Programs Bookkeepers should plan to attend this virtual Zoom training to receive important information for SY 2024-25. This session will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, from 9:30 -11:30 a.m. (CT). See the 2024 Bookkeeper Training Flyer to learn more about what this training offers, and to access the link to register for training in Zoom.

• School Meals Program Food Service Training – Required for new Food Service Directors and recommended for all food service staff – see the 2024 School Food Service Annual Training Flyer for on-site dates and locations in your area. The training will also be offered in two days via Zoom on Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Register for the in-person training or the virtual Zoom training; you do not need to attend both. See instructions for the registering at Registration Instructions for the Annual School Food Service Training 2024.

What: Turnip the Beet is an award presented by the USDA specifically for Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP) that provide high-quality meals to children. Summer meals are critical to the lives of students because they help ensure children are healthy even when school is not in session, which helps support their readiness to return to school in the fall.

Who: All SFSP sponsors are eligible to apply!

Where: To apply, send a completed application guide and detailed menu (below) to taylor.schorsch@nebraska.gov by September 23, 2024!

Congratulations to Nebraska's 2023 Turnip the Beet Award Winners!

Silver Award:

Alliance Public Schools

Broken Bow Public Schools

Columbus Public Schools

Hastings Public Schools

Madison Public Schools

Ogallala Public Schools

O'Neill Public Schools

South Sioux City Community School District

York Public Schools

Summer is a time of agricultural abundance: plump stone fruits hang heavy on trees, juicy melons and tomatoes explode from their vines, beans begin to dry in their pods, and livestock fed on the most nutritious spring grasses produce delicious meat and dairy products. The Farm to Summer Factsheet will review how to integrate local food into summer meals.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: AD-3027, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington,

D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.