Mommysavers

Frugal Moms Living Well for Less

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Food
    • Recipes
      • 5 Ingredients or Less
      • 30 Minute Meals
      • Freezer Meals
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Dessert
      • Snacks
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Leftovers and Preservation
  • Home
    • Cleaning
    • Decor and Design
    • DIY Projects
    • Money
      • Couponing
      • Personal Finance
      • Shopping Tips
    • Simple Living
  • Family
    • Fun
    • Parenting
    • Travel
  • A Better You
    • Health and Fitness
    • Lifehacks
    • Fashion
    • Motivation and Productivity
    • Entrepreneurialism
  • Holidays
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
  • Special Deals

Your School Lunch Program Gets a Makeover: School Nutrition Association Conference in Denver

July 18, 2012 by Kimberly Danger 5 Comments

school nutrition association conference denver 12Where can you go to find Food Network stars, a White House chef and thousands of school lunch ladies under one roof? The School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference, of course!  Thanks to the SNA I was able to join in the fun in Denver earlier this week, taste some new product offerings, and gather loads of information about school lunch programs.  And let me tell you, school lunch is not what it used to be!

sam kass sna denver 12
Sam Kass, White House Chef

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) Annual National Conference (ANC)

The first thing that surprised me about the School Nutrition Association conference was its size and scope.   The conference has been going on for sixty-six years and now boasts over 6,000 attendees and hundreds of exhibitors.  It’s HUGE!   Attendees range from media (such as reporters and bloggers like myself) to vendors and school food service directors.

National Brands:  On a School’s Budget?

Think your school can’t afford popular name brands?  Think again!  Barilla Pasta, Campbell’s, Pillsbury, Domino’s Pizza, and Kraft were all there, just to name a few.  I assumed school cafeterias could only afford to serve government commodities and generic brands (after all, I personally often forgo name brands because they’re often more expensive).  National brands work closely with schools to make their products affordable, as well as adhere to nutritional standards.  Purchasing in bulk also helps bring the cost down.  Some schools even have cooperatives with other districts set up to bring the cost down even further.

school nutrition association conference

New School Lunch Standards

The conference was buzzing about the new USDA nutrition standards for school lunches that went into effect on July 1, 2012.   If you’re like most moms, you weren’t even aware of these changes (I wasn’t).  These standards will be phased in over the next ten years.  However, there will be a noticeable difference in all schools participating in the school lunch program beginning in the upcoming ’12-’13 school year.  Your child will now be getting more servings of fruit and veggies, more whole grains, less sodium and fewer trans-fats.  These are all healthy changes, but will require additional planning on the part of school dietitians and involvement with vendors to change the products they supply.

school nutrition association conference kern halls sam kass

School Lunch Trends

Kern Halls (above, left), Area Manager of Food & Nutrition Services in the Orange County Florida School District, mentioned that his district allows kids to test new recipes before they’re rolled out to the general school population.  Many other districts also do this, so that money isn’t wasted on serving new recipes that kids won’t enjoy. Popular items are foods kids have seen at restaurants like Orange Chicken (think Panda Express) and Burrito Bowls (Chipotle). This seems to be a trend with food suppliers.  I saw lots of Asian foods, as well as Mexican and gluten-free foods.

Grab-and-go offerings also had a huge presence at the conference. Pre-packaged orange wedges, apple slices, and grapes are not only easy to hand out in a lunch line, kids are more willing to eat them than whole fruit.   Salads and a la carte options in prepackaged containers are also great for students who are rushed through lunch lines.

national school lunch annual conference 12

Familiar Foods

You can make school lunches as healthy as you want to, but if the kids don’t eat them – you’re wasting time and money.  This is why you still see a strong emphasis on foods already readily accepted by children:  pizza, chicken nuggets, tacos and so on.  However, when you see them on the menu, don’t be fooled into thinking they’re junk!  This is a common misconception moms have, and one I had myself.  Often, they’re much healthier than the versions served at home.  Even good ‘ole Domino’s Pizza served at school meets the new standards – with lower sodium sauce, lite Mozzarella cheese, reduced fat and sodium pepperoni and whole grain crust.

school nutrition association conference

Join the Conversation

Do you have questions about school lunches and the school nutrition association conference?  Leave them in the forum and I’ll answer them there.  You’ll also find dozens of pictures of the new product offerings in our forum galleries. Visit my School Lunch Association Conference Photo Gallery and feel free to leave questions or comments in the pictures section.

Share
Tweet
Pin
0 Shares

Filed Under: Food, Family Tagged With: kids, school, nutrition

« Easy Carolina Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Making the Most of Your BlogHer Investment: Five Tips to Keep You Grounded »

Comments

  1. dkb says

    July 29, 2012 at 11:16 pm

    I’m glad that you had the opportunity to attend the SNA Conference. It seems to me that its easy to complain about School Lunch but you took the time to attend the conference and thus begin your journey of learning about Lunch, Breakfast, and After School Snack programs offered by Public Schools across the country. If not for meals offered at Public and Private Schools thousands of hungry kids would stay hungry.
    Childhood obesity is now an epidemic that needs to fought on several fronts with nutrition education and the balanced meals offered at schools being one of the ways that we are going to win the battle. I would urge any interested parent to contact the head of the nutrition services department at their school district and ask to eat lunch with their child at school, of course be prepared to pay for the lunch, they are not free.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Denver's Rioja: Fabulous Mediterranean Bistro Fare - Frugal Bites says:
    July 27, 2012 at 7:43 am

    […] able to sample wonderful restaurants all over the country.  Last week I traveled to Denver for the School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference and was able to stop in again at Rioja, easily my favorite restaurant in the Mile-High City.  I […]

    Reply
  2. Tray Talk: Recent Changes in School Lunches | Online Coupons & Savings says:
    September 5, 2012 at 11:35 am

    […] Your School Lunch Program Gets a Makeover: School Nutrition Association Conference in Denver This entry was posted in Articles, Cooking with Kids and tagged recent changes in school lunches, school lunch, school lunch trends, sna, tray talk. Bookmark the permalink. Related posts: ← Arby’s: FREE Hot Turkey Roasters Sandwich (Tomorrow ONLY, 9/6) […]

    Reply
  3. Tray Talk: Win $250 in the Healthy School Lunches Photo Contest - Mommysavers.com | Online Coupons & Savings says:
    January 21, 2013 at 11:16 am

    […] I had the opportunity to get involved with the School Nutrition Association by attending the 2012 SNA conference in Denver.  I learned so much about the new school nutrition standards and the creative things being done to […]

    Reply
  4. School Lunch Superhero Day + FREE Printable Thank-You Notes - Mommysavers.com | Online Coupons & Savings says:
    April 25, 2013 at 8:11 am

    […] had the opportunity to visit the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference last summer in Denver.  Since my own kids have been eating school lunch for years, it was […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




About Mommysavers

Kimberly Danger established Mommysavers.com in March 2000 as a way to channel her creative energy while raising her kids. Initially an online discussion board, the website evolved into a comprehensive platform offering money-saving tips, deals and budget-friendly recipes and tips for frugal moms. Read More…

View My Blog Posts
Kimberly Danger

mommysavers

Helping families live well for less 💰money saving tips 🥘 budget-friendly recipes 💵 frugal living 🛍️ deals

😍✨ Unlock the Secrets of Decorating with Thri 😍✨ Unlock the Secrets of Decorating with Thrifted Bohemian Maximalist Decor 🌿💸 

Dive into our latest article filled with thrifted treasures and hidden gems. You won't believe how easy and affordable it is to transform your home into a boho paradise! 🏡✨ Eight tips that will have you looking at thrift store goodies in an entirely new way!  https://mommysavers.com/bohemian-maximalist-decor-on-a-budget/

Also, check out this page for thrifted Boho Inspo: @Boho Design Dreams

#bohoonabudget #budgetdecor #thriftedfinds
#momlife #momlife
🎉 Calling all Savvy Shoppers💰 🔥 This wee 🎉 Calling all Savvy Shoppers💰

🔥 This week in our Deals Group we shared info on Lululemon discounts, and how to get this Nature's Bounty protein shake mix for under $10 per canister! 📦💯

We also share unbeatable Amazon deals, irresistible clothing discounts, and mind-blowing super savings! 🛍️✨

Join HERE --> https://www.facebook.com/groups/mommysaversdeals
🍞🍍🥥 Copycat Hawaiian Sweet Bread😋 🌴 🍞🍍🥥 Copycat Hawaiian Sweet Bread😋 🌴

Follow our step-by-step instructions to create a delicious, tropical-flavored loaf right in your own kitchen.

Check out the recipe here: https://mommysavers.com/copycat-hawaiian-sweet-bread-a-step-by-step-guide/

#copycatrecipes #breadrecipes
📸🌿 Planning the Perfect Photo Safari for Kid 📸🌿 Planning the Perfect Photo Safari for Kids 🦋 🌺

Spark your child's creativity and curiosity with a neighborhood photo safari! It's a fun-filled activity that combines exploration, nature, and photography, teaching kids to observe their surroundings, focus on details, and capture beautiful moments.🐕🚚

From planning the safari and selecting the right equipment to the joy of reviewing their photos and discussing their experiences, our guide offers a step-by-step walkthrough that's sure to inspire. 👣🌳📝

Check out our free downloadable safari checklist to kickstart your journey! 🗒️✔️

👉 https://mommysavers.com/photo-safari-for-kids-a-fun-neighborhood-adventure/

🌍💼🎉 #PhotoSafari #KidsActivities #photographyforkids #staycation #summerfunforkids
🌱🍌 Banana Peels = Your Gardening Secret! 💚

Don't throw those banana peels away!  Instead, discover the hidden nutrient potential of banana peels and how they can invigorate your plants with essential elements like potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. We've revealed three easy methods for transforming your banana peels into a potent, organic fertilizer that your plants will love!

https://mommysavers.com/banana-peel-fertilizer/

#bananas #plantlove #greenthumb #gardeningtips #gardening101
🎉 Calling all Savvy Amazon Shoppers💰 Get re 🎉 Calling all Savvy Amazon Shoppers💰

Get ready for unbeatable Amazon Prime Day deals, irresistible clothing discounts, and mind-blowing super savings! 🛍️✨

🔥 We'll be posting them all day in our Deals Group!  As a member of our group, you'll be the first to know about the hottest deals on Amazon. From must-have essentials to exciting finds, we bring you the best prices on all the products you love! 📦💯

Join HERE --> https://www.facebook.com/groups/mommysaversdeals
💁‍♀️Calling All Budget-Savvy Moms👗 Wa 💁‍♀️Calling All Budget-Savvy Moms👗

Want to unlock incredible style without breaking the bank? Check out our new blog post: '12 Ways to Level Up Your Style without Draining Your Wallet'. We've compiled some practical yet creative tips for you, from thrifting tricks to building a smart capsule wardrobe. So, how many of these tips are you following? Share your thoughts in the comments. 🛍️👠 

https://mommysavers.com/frugal-fashion-ideas-for-women-money-saving-tips-for-moms/

#frugalfashion #budgetfashion #fashiontips #budgetwardrobe #capsulewardrobe
🌟 Who's on Threads? 🧵 Let's get together f 🌟 Who's on Threads? 🧵 

Let's get together for some frugal fun and conversation! 🎉 We don't quite know what we're doing yet, but we don't want to miss out on the action! ⚡️ Here's our link: https://www.threads.net/@mommysavers 

Drop your link below, and we will be sure to follow you back. Let's bring the frugal fun to threads! 🌱  #frugalliving #threads #frugalmom #mommysavers
👚 Ready to revamp your family's wardrobe in a s 👚 Ready to revamp your family's wardrobe in a sustainable, budget-friendly, and fun way? 👕 

In our latest blog post, we show you how to organize a clothing swap. From gathering your fashion-forward friends, setting the right guidelines to choosing a fair and fun swapping method, we've covered all bases. Plus, we delve into how you can turn your swap into a memorable social event and wrap it up by giving back to the community!

It's more than just a clothing swap—it's about sustainability, community, and of course, great style! Start planning your swap today! #clothingswap #sustainablefashion #frugalfashion 

🔗 https://mommysavers.com/how-to-organize-a-clothing-swap/
Instagram post 18000104272794052 Instagram post 18000104272794052
🎉 Are you ready to turn your passion for fashio 🎉 Are you ready to turn your passion for fashion into cash? Whether you're a Poshmark newbie or a seasoned pro, our Ultimate Guide to Poshmark Success is here to help you step up your selling game! 💸

Learn the secrets to sourcing high-demand items, discover the best brands to sell, get the scoop on staying ahead of seasonal trends, and unlock the power of Posh Parties. From thrift store hunting tips to mastering the art of selling high-end items, we've got it all covered. 🛍️👗👠

Jumpstart your Poshmark journey today with our savvy strategies! 💖🌟

Check out the guide now: https://mommysavers.com/a-comprehensive-guide-to-selling-on-poshmark/

#resale #poshmark #poshmarkcloset #fashionresale
🌿🚫🦟 Want to reclaim your yard from pesky 🌿🚫🦟 Want to reclaim your yard from pesky mosquitoes? 🌿🚫🦟

We've got 8 practical tips to transform your outdoor space into a (nearly) mosquito-free zone. From eliminating breeding grounds to introducing natural predators, we've got it all covered. Say goodbye to itchy bites and hello to peaceful summer evenings. 👋🌛 Read now and make your yard a no-fly zone for mosquitoes! 👉 https://mommysavers.com/8-ways-to-keep-mosquitoes-away-from-your-yard/

#bugrepellent #mosquitoes #mosquitofree
🎆 Prepping for your 4th of July celebration? Ad 🎆 Prepping for your 4th of July celebration? Add a splash of red to your blue and white with our deliciously patriotic Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars! 🇺🇸🍰

🎉 These tasty treats are not just festive, they're velvety, creamy, and an absolute crowd-pleaser. The perfect way to sweeten up your Independence Day celebrations!

https://mommysavers.com/red-velvet-cheesecake-bars/
🍹 Calling all cocktail enthusiasts! After a mar 🍹 Calling all cocktail enthusiasts! After a marathon of mixology and countless taste-tests, we've discovered the secret to the PERFECT Beerita! 😎

⚙️ Several recipes and countless taste tests later, we're proud to present our definitive Beerita Recipe, a symphony of flavors balanced to perfection. And the best part? They're a breeze to whip up!

📝 Here's the golden recipe:
12-oz. limeade
Two 12-oz. beers 🍻
12 oz. tequila 🥃
12 oz. Sprite 🍾
1 C. ice ❄️

🗣️ From the Mixologists: We tried a version with one beer - good, but two beers? Even better. Worried about a 'beery' taste? Don't be! The beer merely offsets the tartness of the limeade, while the Sprite adds a refreshing fizz.

The full scoop is here: https://mommysavers.com/the-perfect-beerita-recipe/
"🍵Unleashing the Secret Powers of Your Tea Bags "🍵Unleashing the Secret Powers of Your Tea Bags: Discover 35+ Amazing Uses 🚀 

Ever wondered how to extend the life of your tea bags beyond the teapot? Did you know that you can polish furniture, tenderize meat, and even prevent rust with used tea bags? Click the link to unveil these unique, cost-saving hacks and the secret powers of the everyday tea bag! https://mommysavers.com/uses-for-tea-bags-leaves/

#frugalliving #householdhacks #frugalhacks #teabags
Garage Sale Shopping at the cabin is a fun way to Garage Sale Shopping at the cabin is a fun way to spend a couple of hours… did anyone else have the Fisher-Price medical kit as a kid? I love seeing #vintage toys. We ended up finding a $10 bike in EUC for our niece #bargainfinds #garagesales
🍪 Got a sweet tooth? Craving a cookie that stay 🍪 Got a sweet tooth? Craving a cookie that stays soft and moist for days? 🤔 We've got just the thing! It's time to level up your cookie game with our secret ingredient - pudding! 😍

🍽️ Our community is raving about these cookies 🥳 Join the 47,000+ baking enthusiasts who've already pinned, baked, and fallen in love with these cookies! https://mommysavers.com/chocolate-chip-pudding-cookies/

#cookierecipes #easytreats #cookies
🕑 The Secret to Time-Saving, Budget-Savvy, Deli 🕑 The Secret to Time-Saving, Budget-Savvy, Delicious Meals! 🍽️

📌 With over 62,000 pins on Pinterest, this life-hack is a game changer for those looking to save time and money in the kitchen!

🕑 Picture this: just a couple of hours in the kitchen, and voila, you have 8 scrumptious meals at your fingertips, ready for the crockpot whenever you need them!

🍖 On our irresistible menu, we have everything from the succulent Ham with Pineapple 🍍 (thanks to Allergy Free Cooking), to the hearty Carolina Style Pulled Pork Sandwiches 🥪, not to mention our flavor-packed Mediterranean Pork Chops 🌿. And, if you're craving BBQ, our Barbecued Hamburgers 🍔 and Tangy BBQ Chicken 🍗 will not disappoint!

👉 Click through to find these enticing recipes and start transforming your meal prep game today! Bon Appétit! 🍽️💕https://mommysavers.com/crock-pot-freezer-meals/

 #MealPrep #CrockPotRecipes #freezermeals #crockpot #budgetrecipes
A thrifters paradise… the #goodwillbins! Come wi A thrifters paradise… the #goodwillbins! Come with us as we shop and discover hidden treasure 💎 💰 #thrifting #goodwilloutlet #goodwillhunting
Load More Follow on Instagram

Tags

21 Day Fix recipes activewear Advent amazon prime christmas treat christmas treat ideas clean eating fix clean eating recipe clean eating recipes crock pot recipes copycat recipes Costco deals crafts crock pot meals date night ideas declutter decor ideas free printables frugal activities frugal recipe furniture gifts for men gratitude gymboree halloween cupcakes halloween party halloween treats healthy healthy menu plan heathy recipes holiday toys homemade christmas Instant Pot kids celebration Michael's deals oatmeal old navy deals oreos organize Shakeology starbucks stocking stuffer ideas teacher gifts turkey cupcakes walmart deals zulily

Copyright © 2025 · Delightful theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2025 · Delightful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in