Amy Carroll

School Nutrition Foundation Member Award-SNIC 2026 

Years in School Nutrition: 8 years

Students Served: 90,000

School Nutrition Association returning attendee scholarship

“As a registered dietitian I love being on the front lines of public health. A large part of my job involves school gardens. By introducing kids to new fruits, vegetables, and balanced meals, I am helping to shape their eating habits for life. Our foodservice team is teaching them that healthy food can actually taste great.”

Why School Nutrition? 

As a registered dietitian in the K-12 world, my primary goal is to ensure that every meal meets the USDA requirements while still being food that kids actually want to eat. To maximize nutrients while minimizing “plate waste”. If a student doesn’t eat the kale salad, they aren’t getting the nutrients. The SNIC scholarship is important to me as it allows more of an insider look at future food trends. As opposed to larger conferences, SNIC provides a more intimate opportunity to have real conversations with manufacturers re: our district’s specific needs. There is more of a collaborative feel versus just “networking”.

Bringing It Back to My District

One key takeaway for me was that AI’s greatest value is not in replacing staff, but in eliminating the tedious, repetitive tasks that can cause burnout for myself and my team. Using technology to solve operational “bottlenecks,” can create a better environment for my staff.

The Impact of This Scholarship

Receiving this conference scholarship allowed me to attend high-level sessions (i.e. the AI session mentioned above) not available at the local level. I’m able to return to my district not just with ideas, but with a strategic roadmap to improve program efficiency and nutritional quality. The conference also allowed me to network with other school nutrition professionals from around the country facing the same challenges, providing a nation wide support network. A SNF Conference Scholarship not only affects one person, but an entire district.