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New Meal Pattern Training Plan--Update

On January 26, 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), issued the Final Rule: Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The Final Rule requires that School Nutrition Programs (SNP) adopt a single food-based menu planning approach and implement updated nutrition standards for school meals. The Final Rule may be accessed from the USDA’s Nutrition Standards for School Meals Web page at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/legislation/nutritionstandards.htm.

In May 2012, the Nutrition Services Division (NSD) issued Management Bulletin (MB) NSD‑SNP‑11‑2012, Nutrition Services Division Training Plan to Support Transition to the New Meal Pattern Requirements and Certification of Compliance. The MB detailed NSD’s long-range, multi-faceted training plan incorporating communications, trainings, and technical assistance (TA). The training plan supports building a foundation of knowledge on the new requirements, developing skills to implement the new standards, and enhancing activities and nurturing best practices across the state. Working with school food authorities (SFA) during this transitional year, the NSD has identified additional training opportunities that will continue to support California’s SFAs. This MB provides an update on the NSD’s training plan progress and updates to the various components.

Training Plan Progress

Since the release of the training plan, NSD staff have provided trainings and TA on the New Meal Pattern (NMP) throughout the state. NSD staff have also developed and issued a vast array of communications supporting transition to the NMP. Specifically, through the end of May 2013, the NSD has completed the following:

• Trainings and TA
  
  
  • Make It Right! Lunch Menu Planning Workshops (104)
    
    
  • Certification of Compliance trainings with one-on-one TA (114)
    
    
  • New Breakfast Menu Planning workshops (44)
    
    
  • National Food Service Management Institute NMP trainings (2)
    
    
  • Full-day Successful Menu Planning trainings (20)
    
    
  • Continuous menu certification TA through e-mail, phone, and online desk sharing
    
    
  • Webinars featuring NMP lunch requirements, USDA Foods, peer-to-peer best practices sharing, menu certification, and NMP breakfast requirements (22)
    
    
  • Webinars from the California Professional Nutrition Education and Training (Cal-Pro-NET) Center at the University of California, Davis on menu production records, meal claiming, salad bars, Offer versus Serve, and transporting meals (5)
    
    
  • Updated meal pattern module in the Online Mandatory Training for Child Nutrition Programs maintained by the San Jose State University Cal-Pro-NET Center

• Communications
  
  
  • MBs released and posted to the CDE Web site on important issues
    
    
  • New MeAl Planning Priorities e-mails providing information, resources, and training schedules supporting transition to the NMP requirements
    
    
  • An updated NSD menu planning Web page
    
    
  • A letter from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson to county and district superintendents, charter school administrators, and residential child care institution administrators encouraging their support for the NMP
    
    
  • NMP presentations at California School Nutrition Association chapter meetings and annual conference and the California Association of School Business Officials annual conference
    
    
  • Article in the California School Boards Association December 2012 Policy News targeting school board members

Current and Long Range Training Plans

The NSD maintains its commitment to ensure that California’s SNPs have the resources, knowledge, and skills to successfully implement the NMP requirements, which requires an on-going planning process. As new topics emerge and issues arise, the NSD will continue to issue communications, develop trainings, and provide TA and resources.

The table below outlines the NSD’s current training plan. As we implement these components, we will continue to investigate options for longer-range, sustainable plans such as training and TA at the regional level and comprehensive training opportunities for frontline child nutrition staff. As this long-range training plan evolves, we will provide SNPs with more details.

For more information, or if you have questions about this MB, please contact Grace Huppert, Nutrition Education Consultant, by e-mail at ghuppert@cde.ca.gov or by phone at 916‑322‑1563, or Louise Casias, Nutrition Education Consultant, by e-mail at lcasias@cde.ca.gov or by phone at 916-322-9943.

New Meal Pattern Training Plan

Legend

ACOE = Alameda County Office of Education
CPN = California Professional Nutrition Education and Training (Cal-Pro-NET) Center
CNIPS = Child Nutrition Information and Payment System
FBG = Food Buying Guide
FSD = Food Service Directors
FPS = Food Production Staff
MB = Management Bulletin
MP = Menu Planners
NSD = Nutrition Services Division
POS = Point of Service
SBO = School Business Official
SJSJ – San Jose State University
SNP = School Nutrition Program
UCD = University of California, Davis
USDA = U.S. Department of Agriculture

Written Communications

CDE New Meal Pattern Web Page

Webinars

Trainings