Resources

 

Related Links

These are just a few of the growing number of nutrition related web sites on the Internet. They provide reliable information and can lead you to many other good sites. But beware out there in Cyberspace. Along with lots of good stuff, there’s plenty of misinformation and bad nutrition advice.

www.usda.gov	National nutrition policy and promotion (Dietary Guidelines, Food Guide Pyramid, Team Nutrition) and programs (School Lunch, Breakfast, WIC, Child Care, Donated Foods and more.
www.eatright.org	American Dietetic Association – sound nutrition advice, National Nutrition Month and more.
www.usda.gov	Find a farmers market near you.
www.ific.org	Food Insights by International Food Information Council. Check out the nutrition glossary.
Team Nutrition Newsletters	The Team Nutrition E-Newsletter is published periodically to share Team Nutrition resources developed by USDA and/or by State agencies (with Team Nutrition grant funding), and to share ideas for promoting healthy eating and physical activity through Team Nutrition at the State and local levels.
www.schoolnutrition.org	The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is the national affiliate of MSNA. SNA provides news and ideas for school nutrition programs – National School Lunch and Breakfast Weeks.
www.fns.usda.gov/fdd	USDA Food Distribution Program
www.cancer.org	American Cancer Society

Minnesota School Food Buying Group
Website for MSFBG

The MSFBG was started in 2006-2007 school year with 15 districts looking for ways to reduce the costs for school food. There are now 94 districts participating.

How it works
MN State law allows for government entities to share contracts with each other by signing joint purchasing agreements. All districts that join the MFSBG sign a joint agreement with Anoka-Hennepin ISD 11.

Commitment
The group selects categories with the most usage volume and dollar spent, then agrees on one item in its category to bid out. Example-Chicken Nugget Category. Each participant calculates their usage for the next school year. Usage volume is requested from all participants.

The Bid Process
Each spring, bids include the items awarded from the preceding year.  New items that participants may want to bid are discussed and based on potential savings those new items may be put on the bid.

The MSFBG represents over half the student population in Minnesota.

Why Join a Buying Group and What You Should Consider Before Joining

- minimal cost to join
- large savings
- bidding process is done for you
- commitment to usage
- buying what you committed
- your role as a participating district
- becoming a participant is easy:
* sign a joint purchasing agreement with Anoka-Hennepin
* pay an annual fee (from July 1 through June 30)
* MSFBG notifies brokers, manufacturers, and distributor of new members

Great Trays

Healthy School Meals for Minnesota Kids
Listing of recommended skills for Minnesota school nutrition professionals, organized by SNA Key Area, along with local and national resources that address those skills
Great Trays Skills for Excellence

Great Trays Website

MN Department of Education Farm2School Links

MDE hosts a Farm2School page to connect school districts with information and toolkits to meet the diverse needs of school nutrition programs, support regional and local farmers and provide support for health and nutrition education.

MN Dept of Ed Farm2school site

Find a farmers market

Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy

Farm2School website to connect students, parents, farmers, educators and other community members with useful tools and information. The site features an interactive map that shows where Farm to School is happening in Minnesota, videos, articles, tip sheets and many useful resources.

http://www.farm2schoolmn.org/

Wellness Policy Samples

Mounds View ISD – Wellness Policy
Wellness policy: http://www.moundsviewschools.org/pdf/regulationEG-3106.pdf
Wellness website for Mounds View public schools: http://www.moundsviewschools.org/Wellness.asp

USDA Wellness Policy Samples
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Healthy/wellnesspolicy_examples.html

School Nutrition Association Wellness Policy Information
http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Index.aspx?id=1075

MN School Board Association (MASBO) – Wellness Policy Information
To access the wellness policy in the MASBO website, you will need a school password. Please contact your superintendent for that number.
http://www.mnasbo.org

2012 LEGISLATIVE ISSUE PAPER

pdf printable version

The Minnesota School Nutrition Association is deeply committed to the nutritional health and well-being of children and recognizes the importance of healthy food for growth and student achievement.  Therefore, the Minnesota School Nutrition Association endorses the following positions for 2012:

School Meals Funding: MSNA supports maintaining current funding for school meals.

Many families are struggling financially, and they depend on school meals to supply a significant portion of their children’s nutritional needs.  At the same time, rising food costs have made it more difficult for school nutrition programs to make ends meet while ensuring that every child has access to nutritious school meals at an affordable price.

Minnesota schools serve more than 100 million lunches each year. School districts cannot cover the cost of a school lunch through the traditional combination of student payments, federal funding, and state funding. The gap between the cost of producing a school lunch and the revenue received is 37 cents for every lunch served.  Maintaining current state funding will help to keep this gap from growing larger.

Food Service Equipment Purchases:  MSNA supports repealing the requirement that school districts obtain approval from the Minnesota Department of Education before purchasing food service equipment from the food service fund.  This requirement has often resulted in lengthy delays in the purchase of needed equipment.

Farm to School:  MSNA supports measures to encourage schools to purchase locally grown agricultural products.