Nutrition: School Wellness

Menu Planning for Health

The Team Nutrition Menu Planner is designed to educate school food service staff.

Updated CD version available to order
http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/menuplanner.html
menuplanner

 

Basics at a Glance – is a handy chart of equivalents, recipe abbreviations, weights, volumes, and measures
from the National Food Service Management Institute:

http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/nfsmi/Information/basicsindex.htm

basicsataglance

USDA Guide on How to Buy Fresh Fruits

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3103620
nutritionpagefruits

USDA Guide on How to Buy Fresh Vegetables

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=
STELDEV3103623
nutritionpgveggies

Standardized Recipes

A standardized recipe is a quantity recipe that has been prepared and evaluated for use in a specific food preparation establishment. The recipe must be tested multiple times, the ingredients modified, and the equipment adjusted so that quality, yield, and taste are consistent regardless of who is preparing the item.

Benefits of using standardized recipes include:

  • Portion control
  • Forecast accuracy
  • Consistent production yield
  • Cost control

For more information:
http://nfsmi-web01.nfsmi.olemiss.edu/ResourceOverview.aspx?ID=43

Children with Special Needs

Three federal legislative acts mandate that school food service serve children with special dietary needs. A Handbook for Children with Special Food and Nutrition Needs can be found at:
http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/nfsmi/webinars/carithers
/RegulationsAndSchoolFoodService.pdf

Menu Marketing Tools

National Dairy Council provides an on-line place for schools to create attractive customized menu calendars at no charge:
http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/sfs/cafeteria_menu.asp

Menu planning, Calories, and Portion sizes Practice Standards:

The Dietary Managers Association is a national not-for-profit association that represents more than 14,000 professionals dedicated to the mission of providing optimum nutritional care through foodservice management.
http://www.dmaonline.org/Resources/DMAResources/standard06.shtml

dietarymanagersassociation