David Broyles/The News
Surry County Director of Child Nutrition Services Sherri Parks speaks with child nutrition services managers on Monday at Meadowview Middle School. The group was presented with new regulation from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.
David Broyles/The News
Paramount Marketing Group representative Torie Combs prepares a lunch featuring nutritious items child nutritional service managers could use to supplement menus in their schools as a result of new rules in the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act.
DOBSON — Surry County Director of Child Nutrition Services Sherri Parks presented county child nutrition services managers with updated information on the Hunger-Free Kids Act Monday at Meadowview Middle School.
Paramount Marketing Group representative Torie Combs and J&J Snack Foods representative Stan Neighbors were on hand to demonstrate even more healthy options of fare in an afternoon buffet for the managers following the meeting.
“Much of what I am doing is to demonstrate new ways for things already available to be used. These new approaches could be helpful,” said Combs.
Some of these changes appear to be a “tweaking” of the recipes. For instance, managers were shown shrimp baked in a crunchy whole-grain breading and baked chicken nuggets coated in rice flour. Other changes could be using more fresh vegetables as toppings on sandwiches. Other items that could be available are whole-grain biscuits, bars and cookies.
“We are trying to go one step ahead,” explained Parks. “We are already providing healthy foods for our county students, but the food brokers here will be presenting even more healthy options.”
Companies represented at the meeting included Pierce Chicken, Farmland, J&J Snacks and Rich’s. Parks said that partnerships with food brokers will become increasingly important as the county school system meets the regulations of the act.
At least 73 new rules are a part of the act which has proved challenging as local officials prepare to interpret and implement the new laws. The manager’s meeting was held before the upcoming School Nutrition Employee Week, which will be held May 7-11 by the School Nutrition Association.
School nutrition employees are settling in to implement the federal government’s new nutrition standards for school meals along with numerous other rules and regulations as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that was passed in January. Schools must meet these new requirements starting in the 2012-2013 school year.
The non-profit School Nutrition Association celebrates the professional commitment of school nutrition workers who routinely prepare healthy school meals, promote good nutrition habits and offer a friendly greeting as part of a day’s work. The Surry County School district has 115 employees in the school district.
The importance and nutritional value of school meals are well documented. School lunch, for many children, is the most important and nutrient-rich meal of their day. Typically, school lunches offer students their choice of skim or one-percent milk, a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and a protein. School meals also must meet strict limits for fat, saturated fat and portion size.
The School Nutrition Association is a national, non-profit professional organization that represents 55,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. It was founded in 1946 and its stated purpose is to make healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. Persons may find out more about today’s school meals at www.TrayTalk.org.
Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.
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