jump to menu
Home » Resources » District News » Grand Island Public Schools recognizes professionals who promote healthy meals
Grand Island Public Schools recognizes professionals who promote healthy meals
School Nutrition Employee Week is May 2-6, 2011Preparing healthy school meals, teaching healthy nutrition habits, and offering a friendly greeting are all in a day’s work for the 130 school nutrition employees in Grand Island Public Schools.
The non-profit School Nutrition Association celebrates this professional commitment with School Nutrition Employee Week, May 2-6, said Kris Spellman, Director of Nutrition Services for Grand Island Public Schools.
The week is an opportunity for parents, students, school staff, and communities to thank those who provide healthy school meals to more than 32 million children nationwide each school day.
School nutrition employees must balance many roles and follow numerous federal, state, and local regulations to ensure safe and healthy meals are available in schools. They are trained sanitation and food safety experts and must manage financially self-sufficient programs despite limited funds to prepare and serve each meal. School nutrition professionals also provide nutrition education to students, as well as healthy catering services to their communities.
They use their creativity to make the cafeteria a fun and welcoming place all year long and perform their jobs each day because they care passionately about the children they serve.
The importance and nutritional value of school meals are well documented. For many children, school lunch is the most important and nutrient-rich meal of their day. In fact, federal regulations ensure that every school lunch offers students their choice of milk, two fruits or vegetables, a grain, and a protein. School meals must also meet strict limits for fat, saturated fat, and portion size. Every school in Grand Island Public Schools also serves breakfast daily. Breakfast has been shown to be extremely important in preparing children to learn for the day.
School Nutrition Association’s 2010 Back to School Trends Report reveals that, despite rising costs, schools nationwide are offering healthier choices in the lunch line. The survey of school nutrition directors found that:
• More than nine out of ten schools districts are increasing offerings of whole grain products and fresh fruits/vegetables.
• Nearly 70 percent of districts are reducing or eliminating sodium in foods.
• About two-thirds of districts are reducing or limiting added sugar.
• More than 50 percent of districts are increasing vegetarian options. The role of school nutrition professionals is more important this year than ever before as more families rely on the federal child nutrition programs. The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 50,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. SNA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children’s health and well being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
For more information, contact: Kris Spellman, Director of Nutrition Services, Grand Island Public Schools, (308) 385-5900, kspellma@gips.org
It is the policy of the Grand Island Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, religion, or marital status in its educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by Title VI, Title IX, &Section 504.EOE/AA.