National Advisory and Strategic Planning Session Recap
ICN hosted its National Advisory Council, the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition (CICN) National Advisory Committee, and the ICN Internal Strategic Planning meetings at the headquarters on the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, MS, the week of October 24–28, 2022. Throughout the week, council and committee members worked with ICN staff to gather recommendations on current challenges impacting child nutrition programs and State agencies. The results of these meetings have affirmed the determination and passion for the work ICN will continue to do in achieving its vision and mission. ICN’s Internal Strategic Planning Meeting was a time for the staff to come together and focus on serving all of the hard-working child nutrition professionals across the country. ICN is excited to continue in 2023 to produce the best child nutrition resources and support your efforts.
CICN Advisory Board
National Advisory Committee
ICN Staff
New Resources
ICN’s Chef Patrick Garmong chats with Stephen Menyhart, Chef, registered dietician, and child nutrition champion. Learn how, and more importantly, why, Stephen began his journey in child nutrition. Hear his story of personal and professional growth in the industry he calls home, child nutrition.
This is a three-part series of four-hour, instructor-led training focusing on global regions' healthful and flavorful foods. Participants will recognize the benefits of scratch cooking, using the ingredients and flavors commonly found in the regional cuisine of focus.
The Strategies to Address Labor Shortages Infographics will equip operators with methods and quick tips and tools for addressing labor shortages, a major challenge brought on by the supply chain disruptions.
Focused on nutrition and wellness in child care settings, Mealtime Memo is a monthly electronic newsletter specifically intended for use by child care professionals who participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It provides research-based best practices for planning, preparing, and/or serving nutritious, safe, and child-friendly meals in child care settings operating the CACFP.
iLearn
Self-paced, free online learning for child nutrition professionals is offered through iLearn. Users have the flexibility to complete courses or view webinars over multiple sessions on desktop, laptop, or mobile devices. Courses align with USDA’s Professional Standards Codes and SNA Key Areas. Learners can also tailor their experience to a particular area of interest. During the fourth quarter of 2022, the following learning opportunities were launched in iLearn:
NEW ONLINE COURSES
UPCOMING ONLINE COURSES
  • Food Allergies in Adult Day Care: Avoiding Cross-Contact
  • Food Allergies in Adult Day Care Sites: Managing Food Allergens for Alternative Meal Service
  • Food Allergies in Adult Day Care: Accommodating Participants with Food Allergies
  • Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains in the CACFP
WEBINARS
Visit TheICN.org/iLearn to start learning Anytime...Anywhere!
ICN Training Opportunities
Face-to-Face Training
ICN offers free group training on a broad range of topics for child nutrition professionals working in school nutrition and child care settings. In addition to training sessions at ICN’s headquarters at the University of Mississippi, training may be requested free of charge for presentation at local sites throughout the country.
  • Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership face-to-face sessions at ICN (3)
  • Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership is intended for new and aspiring school nutrition program directors. The training is 30.5 hours, and the course content is divided over five days. Lessons provide an overview of school nutrition programs, define the role and responsibilities of a director, and review the relationship between local policies and State/Federal regulations.
  • MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ICN will host three face-to-face sessions at the Institute of Child Nutrition headquarters on the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS. Click here for session dates and enroll today!
  • Writing a HACCP-Based Food Safety Plan for Schools Workshop
  • The goal of this 2.5-day workshop is for participants to take a detailed draft of a school-specific, HACCP-based food safety plan back to their school nutrition programs (SNPs). The workshop begins with a basic overview of HACCP principles and food safety. Next, it details how to design a school-specific, HACCP-based food safety plan. Participants will be provided with interactive templates and sample documents to help with development. They will have the opportunity to complete these templates for their SNPs during the workshop.
  • MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ICN will be hosting this workshop at the Institute of Child Nutrition headquarters on the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, MS, from March 21–23, 2023. Click here to register!
Virtual Instructor-Led Trainings (VILTs) for Individuals

Start off the new year in 2023 with FREE virtual training sessions from the ICN! Topics are available for school nutrition professionals and CACFP operators. Many topics are scheduled for new child nutrition directors, and the list also includes lessons from Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership (ISNL) and Food Safety in Schools.

Visit TheICN.org/VILT for session availability. Remember to register early to reserve your spot!
Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership for Managers
Customer Experience Module
  • Part 1: Customer Experience VILT, 1/19/23, 3:00p – 4:30p CT
  • Learners will identify the primary and secondary customers and the importance of customer experience, as well as discuss ways to improve the customer experience in their program.
  • Part 2: Engaging Discussion Questions, Weeks of 1/24/23, 1/31/23, and 2/7/23
  • Learners will access ICN's iLearn portal to answer a series of engaging discussion questions and respond to others' posts.
  • Part 3: Customer Experience Coffee Break, 2/16/23, 3:00p – 4:30p CT
  • Learners will regroup for the Customer Experience Coffee Break to recap the VILT topics and discuss changes in their customer service experience since the VILT.
Register here for Customer Experience module sessions!
Marketing Module
  • Part 1: Marketing VILT, 1/26/23, 3:00p – 4:30p CT
  • Learners will identify the definition of marketing and discuss the four Ps of marketing (price, product, place, and promotion).
  • Part 2: Engaging Discussion Questions, Weeks of 1/20/23, 2/6/23, and 2/13/23
  • Learners will access ICN's iLearn portal to answer a series of engaging discussion questions and respond to others' posts.
  • Part 3: Marketing Coffee Break, 2/23/23, 3:00p – 4:30p CT
  • Learners will regroup for the Marketing Coffee Break to recap the VILT topics and discuss changes in their marketing since the VILT.
Register here for Customer Experience module sessions!
Conference Takeaways
31st Annual CACFP Roundtable Conference
“ICN had an amazing opportunity to present four different sessions at the 31st Annual CACFP Roundtable Conference in Sacramento, California, in October. Liz, Janae, and I presented on Making Sense of Food Allergies, Introduction to Happy Meal Times in Child Care Settings, Using Ounce Equivalents for Grains in the CACFP, and Pre-Conference: Managing Personalities and Conflict. We had 100+ in attendance for all sessions. In addition to presenting, we also hosted an exhibit booth, which enabled us to engage with program participants and stakeholders, personally deliver our free resources, learn what is needed and currently trending, as well as network with other professionals in the field. We are excited to join CACFP Roundtable in fostering a community of leaders who work together to build equitable access to CACFP and nutritious meals. We were honored to be a part of this week-long experience and can’t wait to start planning for next year’s conference!” - Heather Burkhead, ICN ET Specialist
2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Food & Nutrition Conference Expo® (FNCE)

ICN had the privilege to exhibit at the 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ annual meeting, Food & Nutrition Conference Expo® (FNCE), in Orlando, Florida, from October 8–11, 2022. FNCE is the premier event for food and nutrition professionals. The latest nutrition science information, foodservice trends, and access to the top experts are showcased here. It was a pleasure interacting with participants and distributing CICN Grab & Go Menu sets, Food Safety posters, and Herbs & Spices posters to everyone who stopped by the ICN booth.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
"ICN had the incredible opportunity to attend and present at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., last month (November). Heather and I attended many engaging sessions and presented in Managing Food Allergies in Early Childhood Education. We had about 50 people in attendance who shared their stories and participated in thought-provoking conversations. In addition, ICN staff hosted an exhibit booth, where we interacted with program participants and stakeholders, personally delivered ICN's free resources, learned what is needed and currently trending, and networked with professionals in the field. We are grateful to connect, collaborate, and learn together with early childhood educators from around the globe." - Molle Polzin, ICN ET Specialist
The Child Nutrition Recipe Box provides child nutrition program operators with recipes:
  • To prepare healthy and delicious meals that meet meal pattern requirements
  • That are standardized to provide meal pattern crediting information for meal pattern components
  • Made with legumes, whole grains, and vegetables from the vegetable subgroups, including dark green, red, and orange vegetables
Check out the new Team Nutrition Training Grant recipes that are developed by State agencies!
The Child Nutrition Sharing Site (CNSS) is an online information center providing child nutrition professionals with a means for sharing effective resources related to program operation. The CNSS aids in the collection and sharing of State and local resources by providing a centralized place to store, organize, manage, and share knowledge and tools with your peers. The CNSS has recieved a number of great resources from Wisconsin and Montana State agencies, check them out!
Wisconsin:
  • Let's Cook! Culinary Training Series: An online, interactive training that contains eight modules designed to assist with improving culinary skills to prepare healthy, made-from-scratch meals that are student approved
  • Nutritious, Delicious Wisconsin: Connection Nutrition Education and Wisconsin Foods: A series of lessons for 3rd through 5th grade students that use Wisconsin-produced foods to teach nutrition concepts
Montana:
  • Roadmap to Building Quality School Meals: A self-assessment that can help new foodservice directors begin their journey on the road to serving quality school meals, while experienced foodservice directors can use it to continue to challenge themselves and move their program to new heights
  • Breakfast Boosts Brain Power Checklist: A tool of simple, no-cost or low-cost strategies that may increase participation, reduce food waste, and increase selection and consumption of healthy breakfasts
Click here to search for resources by state or by visiting TheICN.org/CNSS.
Shaking It Up! Small Changes Lead to Big Flavors
The Shaking It Up! sodium resources provide tangible, practical guidance for school nutrition professionals to implement sodium reduction best practices and strategies in their school foodservice operations. This page provides a range of educational resources and training materials. Also available are sodium training worksheets, which provide a deep dive into sodium reduction topics and related strategies, feature scenarios or school success stories to demonstrate sodium reduction best practices, and activities to test and reinforce key concepts. These training worksheets can be used for individual learning and incorporated into school staff trainings on sodium reduction topics.

Visit TheICN.org/Shaking-It-Up to check out worksheets, online courses, and more.
The Child Nutrition Leadership Site (CNLS) is designed to empower, educate, and elevate child nutrition professionals. Leadership is the ability to influence others toward a common goal. A leader can be anyone who aspires to lead their team in meeting their goal of feeding our nation’s children. The CNLS is a one-stop-shop for ICN’s leadership-driven resources.

The ICN Leadership Job Aid Series is based on relevant leadership topics and focuses on skills that child nutrition leaders need to perform their job duties. This series is intended for all child nutrition professionals and programs. Visit TheICN.org/Leadership to view and download all six Leadership Job Aids.

The ICN Chat and Learn Series is a monthly live virtual conversation. These sessions will connect ICN and child nutrition professionals by educating, elevating, and empowering the leadership discussion. The Chat and Learn Series is intended for all child nutrition professionals and programs seeking leadership networking opportunities. Visit TheICN.org/Leadership to submit any questions you would like answered during upcoming Chat and Learn sessions and to view all live-streamed Chat and Learn sessions.

Check back on all ICN social media channels and the Child Nutrition Leadership Site for future Chat and Learn dates!

The ICN staff is always here to help! Reach out and let us give you a hand.

Call us at 1-800-321-2054 or email helpdesk@theicn.org, and our staff will help you find the resources you need.
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