Conferences & Events

A new national survey of school meal program operators finds that schools are expanding creative menu options, nutrition education and other initiatives to promote healthy school meals

A new survey of school meal program operators finds many are struggling with higher costs, shrinking revenue, and challenges with product availability and student acceptance under new nutrition standards for school meals.

SNA President Julia Bauscher, SNS, testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee today on challenges school meal programs have faced as they work to meet new nutrition standards for school meals and snacks.

In advance of the Annual National Conference (ANC) Exhibit Hall grand opening, a panel of school nutrition professionals shared insight on school cafeteria trends, including successes and challenges related to recent and newly implemented national nutrition standards.

Approximately 1,000 school nutrition professionals from across the country have gathered in Washington, D.C., for the SNA’s 42nd annual Legislative Action Conference (LAC).

SNA participated in a U.S. Department of Agriculture roundtable discussion on the need to find practical solutions to support school meal programs as they struggle to meet new federal nutrition standards.

SNA is calling on Congress to include language in the Fiscal Year 2015 Appropriations Bill to provide flexibility under USDA regulations for foods and beverages sold in schools.

The House Appropriations Committee has released the Fiscal Year 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which will be considered by the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

SNA welcomed the announcement of Agriculture Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon that school meal programs that “demonstrate significant challenges in serving whole grain rich pastas can now continue serving traditional enriched pasta products for up to two more years.”

SNA is calling on Congress to provide reasonable flexibility to help schools plan healthy meals that students will eat. Some critics of providing relief to struggling school meal programs have released misleading information about the challenges schools have faced under the new regulations.