Events, Trainings and Resources
MegaCon is only a month away! Click the link in the title above to see more information and register.
On the first Friday in May, we celebrate School Lunch Hero Day! School Lunch Hero Day recognizes hardworking school nutrition professionals and the difference they make every day. Plan to celebrate your School Lunch Heroes by visiting the TDA School Lunch Hero Day webpage for fun downloadable resources. Join us by posting on social media with the hashtag #SchoolLunchHeroDay!
TDA's Farm Fresh Challenge runs from October 1-31 and is open to both NSLP and CACFP operators during the same month! Learn more about the Challenge to Eat Local, Teach Local, and Be Social at SquareMeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge and begin planning for your participation in October!
The Health Ambassadors for a Ready Texas (HART) program empowers exceptional high school students to promote healthy school meals and Texas agriculture among their peers. Student applications are now open through May 5, 2023. To learn more about how your students can be involved, visit SquareMeals.org/HART to download a promotional flyer and to access the student application.
The E-Harvest newsletter is sent on a monthly basis and includes a variety of educational resources and funding opportunities. Subscribe to receive information such as recipes featuring the Harvest of the Month, gardening activities, upcoming webinars, and Farm Fresh Network members interested in selling their agricultural products to nutrition programs. Subscribe by selecting "Farm to School Newsletter" on the publication subscription page.
Promotion of Culinary Professionals in School Nutrition Programs - April 6, 2023 2:00-3:00pm CST
This webinar aims to address the growing interest in employing culinary professionals and discuss the possible positions that trained chefs can occupy in school nutrition programs. USDA Professional Credits available. Register by clicking the link in the title above.
USDA has opened applications for Fiscal Year 2023 Team Nutrition Grants, which support nutrition education for school-aged children and extend nutrition education efforts beyond the cafeteria. SFAs may apply for up to $1 million each in grant funding. Applications are due by Monday, May 22, 2023. FNS expects to announce awards in August 2023. Apply online by clicking the link it the title above.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households discounts off their internet bills and eligible devices and is available to households in which a child receives free or reduced-price school meals. Therefore, under the ACP rules, every household with a child attending a school participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP and SBP is eligible for ACP benefits.
Schools are working hard to serve healthy meals that give students fuel for the future. Check out the diversity of school breakfasts and lunches offered across the country to meet students’ nutritional needs and preferences at Team Nutrition’s School Meals Trays, Many Ways!
Summer Materials Are On the Way To Assist With School's Meeting USDA Requirement
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is still in the process of sending posters (3 per school) and parent information cards (1 per enrolled student) to every school food authority (SFA) in Texas to assist them in fulfilling a National School Lunch Program requirement to notify students and their families about the availability of summer meals. The posters must be displayed on campus and the parent information cards must be distributed to each student immediately upon the shipment’s arrival.
The Summer Meal Programs provide healthy and nutritious meals after the school year ends to children 18 years and younger and enrolled students with disabilities up to 21 years old. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has developed no-cost, online resources and printed materials you can use to promote the availability of these meals for families in need. Make sure you are utilizing new materials this year. Please visit the Summer Meals Resources linked in the title above to order no-cost, print materials today!
Are you a Small and/or Rural School Food Authority and participate in NSLP and/or SBP? The USDA Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative and Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) is teaming up to offer competitive grants to support efforts in improving the nutritional quality of school meals! Be sure to visit AFHK during MegaCon May 9-11th for information on how to apply!
Head over to our NSLP training page to check out a new handout on Choking Hazards. Learn important information and tips on how to keep children safe while eating nutritious meals!
Grants will be awarded to Texas non-profit organizations, agencies and schools that demonstrate the greatest need and likelihood of a sustainable impact on children's nutrition and activity levels through innovative programs.
USDA Foods Transferring Opportunities Available for Processing. Donations or State Account transfer requests will not be approved. There is criteria that has to be met to be approved for a transfer.
We want to hear from you! Your feedback will help guide us for next year’s celebrations - Please fill out our 2023 SBW Post-survey by clicking here and check out SBW 2023 success stories by clicking the link in the title above.
Click the link in the title above to check out TDA's current employment opportunities.
