CNAC Minutes for the January 14, 2026 Meeting

Council Members

Kim Frinzell – Director Nutrition Services Division (NSD), California Department of Education (CDE)
Ronald Little – School Administration
Maryam Shayegh – Consultant
Meggan Arnoux – Food Program member
Carrie Buck – School Board
Amber Green – Nutrition Education Specialist
Anne Wilson – School Food Services Supervisor
Yaz Widatalla – School Nutrition Services Director (new)
Kayvon Banankhah – Student Representative
Marilyn Anderson – Lay Member

Absent

Maulik Dhakal, Student Representative (new)

Guests

Jackie Richardson, Associate Director, CDE
Reema El-Murr, Nutrition Education Administrator, CDE
Andrea Bricker, Nutrition Education Consultant, CDE
Nina Ortiz, Office Technician, CDE
Public Participants: Melissa Cook-Rodriguez and Tami MacDonald

Administrative Activities (facilitated by Kim Frinzell)

• Meeting called to order at 9:32 a.m.
• Brief overview of agenda and roll call
• New members, re-elected members – oath administered
• Carrie introduced as Chair, she will be facilitating meetings supported by CDE staff
• Facilitated by Carrie (Chair)
  • Meeting Agenda January 2026: Motion to approve CNAC agenda. Seconded. Agenda approved.
  • Previous Meeting Minutes – October 2025: Motion to approve meeting minutes. Seconded. Minutes approved.
• Facilitated by Andrea
  • Forms and Training Reminders: Complete Form 700 (annual and new member), Defensive Driver Training (renewed every 4 years), and Ethics Training (renewed every two years).
    
    
  • Andrea will send email reminders to CNAC members.

Request for public comment

No public comment.

Agenda Items

Item 1: CNAC Member Roles & Responsibilities (facilitated by Jackie Richardson)

• Review of CNAC Bylaws
• Follow Roberts Rules of Order
• Overview of the Bagley-Keene Act

Questions: None.

Item 2: Legislative/Bill Updates (facilitated by Kim Frinzell)

• Federal Updates: Government shutdown as of October 1, 2025
  • Continuing Resolution signed November 12, 2025, this authorized CNPs through the remainder of the federal fiscal year.
    
    
  • New 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans was released on January 7, 2026. Update focuses on whole nutrient dense foods and less processed foods. Federal standards must follow the DGAs. Anticipate new meal standards coming, along with opportunity for public comment.
    
    
  • Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 - approved and moved to the president for signature.
    
    
  • At 2:12 p.m. Kim amended the previous report and shared that the President signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and the USDA released a new policy memo. CDE will share updates during the next Town Hall and will share the USDA guidance once available.
• State Updates:
  • Governor’s proposed budget was released. This is just the beginning of the process and will continue as the budget process progresses.
    
    
    • Proposed investments for Kitchen Infrastructure and Training (KIT) 2026 ($100M) and education with investments in Community Schools, Special Education and Expanded Learning, and Proposition 2 funding for school facilities
      
      
    • Slight reduction in Universal Meals
      
      
• Grant Opportunities:
  •  State Funding:
    • 2025 KIT and Retention & Recruitment Grant applications are due January 30, 2026.
      
      
    • School Breakfast Program and Summer Meals Program Start-up and Expansion Grant applications are due Friday, February 13, 2026.
      
      
  • Federal Funding: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) applications are due Friday, February 6, 2026.
    
    
  • March is National Nutrition Month and National School Breakfast Week is March 2-6, 2026.
    
    
• Questions:
  • Yaz – If CDE is moved under the Governor, would this effect CNAC?
    
    
  • Kim’s response: It’s a proposal at this time. This proposal changes the structure of the Dept of Education Secretary to report to the administration of the Governor. The SSPI, still an elected position, would change to other focused priority initiatives, etc. CNAC falls under the SSPI, so this would need to be worked out as part of the transition and require updates to the Education Code.

Item 3: Subcommittee break out work group continued (facilitated by Carrie/Jackie)

• ATE Subcommittee Members: Maryam Shayegh, Ronald Little, Carrie Buck
  • Ron – Discussed the ATE infographic developed for districts to implement strategies that support ATE
    
    
  • Maryam – Next step to engage with partners via a statewide survey to encourage feedback, define challenges, discover more opportunities to work and collaborate with groups and agencies. Continue to explore the possibility of updating the local school wellness policy template to include ATE recommendations.
    
    
• UPF Subcommittee Members: Amber Green, Anne Wilson, Yaz Widatalla
  • Yaz and Amber – Developing a handout to help support school food service personnel. The handout will focus on identifying key ingredients, such as food dyes and provide a list of alternatives available, so districts can use this information to inform their bidding and procurement process.
    
    
• New members selected their priority subcommittee areas:
  • Meggan to ATE, Marilyn to UPF
    
    
• Members breaking out to their groups until lunch break
  • Reconvened briefly before lunch to check in, then recessed for lunch
    

Public member – Melissa, excused herself for the rest of the meeting at 10:25 a.m.

Break: Lunch

Began – 12:15 p.m.

Item 4: Next Meeting Agenda topics

• Agenda items for next meeting
  • Continue the subcommittee workgroups.
    
    
  • Follow up on ATE survey – request CDE staff feedback.
    
    
  • Check-in with the California Department of Public Health regarding the progress of UPFs of concern, restricted foods, and UPF definition.
    
    
  • Maryam – Discuss implications of the new Dietary Guidelines regarding existing nutrition education resources. Discuss plans to address updating existing resources and materials.
• Questions
  • Carrie – Can we invite schools or personnel to the next meeting to give feedback during a CNAC meeting? So, they can give feedback on their ATE best practices and implementation.
    
    
  • Kim’s response – Group member may identify specific schools and presenters to provide information and best practices for CNAC and then request they be added to the agenda.

Next Meeting Dates – discussion regarding May CNAC meeting dates

Move to approval. Seconded. Approved.

Request for public comment

No public comment.

Adjourn

Motion to end the meeting. Seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 2:47 p.m.

Key Terms and Acronyms:

CNAC – Child Nutrition Advisory Council

AB – Assembly Bill

SB – Senate Bill

SBE – State Board of Education

UPF – Ultra Processed Foods

CDE – California Dept. of Education

CNP – Child Nutrition Programs

ATE – Adequate Time to Eat

NSD – Nutrition Services Division

USDA – U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

Chair – Chair of the CNAC

VC – Vice chair for the CNAC

Dir – Director

CA – California

NSLW – National School Lunch Week