Nothing gets me more that uninformed individuals who don't know the truth about school meals and yet insist on attacking the program. Here is a great article!
School Lunches: Perspective, Please! « Real Life Nutrition:'via Blog this'
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Study: Preschoolers' brown-bag lunches reach unsafe temperatures - USATODAY.com
Interesting article and a huge eye-opener!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Editorial Notebook: Don't stigmatize kids who just want lunch - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee
Wow! I agree with this article in SO many ways. School lunch is essential for kids to reach their full potential!!!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
In Service
Each year before we head back into the kitchen every employee in Columbia County School Nutrition attends inservice. Inservice is an 8 hour training event that introduces new concepts and reinforces best practices and food safety procedures. For me it is so much more. Inservice provides the chance to see my employees and my fellow nutrition professionals after a 9 week summer hiatus. Everyone greets each other with hugs, laughter, and tales from the summer break. The day consists of training sessions, a local association meeting, lunch, and an awards ceremony. Inservice PUMPS me up! While the weeks leading up to the start of school are stressful, inservice reminds me that I know my job, I know my customers, and I love what I do everyday.
What truly amazed me this year is finding out I'm not alone. Don't get me wrong, I know plenty of managers and employees who are always ready for that next chapter. What surprised me this year is a conversation with a fellow manager. This manager always seems a little ho-hum to me. I'm not saying that she isn't a good manager, just that this past year had me thinking that she was probably ready for retirement. But on Thursday, I saw a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her lips. She told me that she and her husband had discussed her retiring, but after every inservice she feels a little pep in her step and a longing to get busy feeding the children of Columbia County. She spoke with promise and excitement and I realized how wrong I'd been about her dedication. Maybe she isn't exactly like me in her mission, but she definitely has a love of school nutrition. Sometimes, I love being proven wrong.
What truly amazed me this year is finding out I'm not alone. Don't get me wrong, I know plenty of managers and employees who are always ready for that next chapter. What surprised me this year is a conversation with a fellow manager. This manager always seems a little ho-hum to me. I'm not saying that she isn't a good manager, just that this past year had me thinking that she was probably ready for retirement. But on Thursday, I saw a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her lips. She told me that she and her husband had discussed her retiring, but after every inservice she feels a little pep in her step and a longing to get busy feeding the children of Columbia County. She spoke with promise and excitement and I realized how wrong I'd been about her dedication. Maybe she isn't exactly like me in her mission, but she definitely has a love of school nutrition. Sometimes, I love being proven wrong.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Time to head back to school
As the summer winds down to a close I'm already thinking about all short people that will soon fill my days. I'm usually ready to head back to work by this time of the break and this year is no different. What's there to do when it's so hot outside anyway?
I look forward to all the smiling faces, the sweet hugs, and the silly jokes shared with the kids. I love that my job offers kids the time to socialize - talking and laughter make each day sweet. I love that I have the opportunity to teach children how to make better decisions about the foods they eat.
This summer has been a productive one. I taught the newest nutrition employees of Columbia County during ONE, I attended my first National Conference for the SNA, and I had the pleasure of training another new manager who I know will do an awesome job. I hope that my love of school nutrition is contagious. It's such a blessing when one is able to go to a job they truly enjoy each day. I'm ready!
I look forward to all the smiling faces, the sweet hugs, and the silly jokes shared with the kids. I love that my job offers kids the time to socialize - talking and laughter make each day sweet. I love that I have the opportunity to teach children how to make better decisions about the foods they eat.
This summer has been a productive one. I taught the newest nutrition employees of Columbia County during ONE, I attended my first National Conference for the SNA, and I had the pleasure of training another new manager who I know will do an awesome job. I hope that my love of school nutrition is contagious. It's such a blessing when one is able to go to a job they truly enjoy each day. I'm ready!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Feed Your Own Kid!
While I love feeding the youngsters in my school, I'm not about to look a gift snow-day in the mouth. So here I sit on my couch, wondering what I'll do with all of the items I pulled out of the freezer to thaw for this week.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
One Reason I Love My Job
Well despite the fact that today was insane, I still had a great time. I love the last week of school, and not just because half the classes don't come to lunch everyday! I love the parties, luaus, honors programs, etc. I have been so stressed with collecting charges and figuring out refunds for the last four weeks, but I don't want to forget about all of the things I love.
I love the annual 5th grade luau. The parents really did a great job this year. We baked 200 chocolate chip cookies to help out the dessert table and to take advantage of the invitation to eat :). Parents were everywhere I looked this morning as they hustled trying to get everything together. I just smiled to myself as I thought about my employees who hustle everyday to feed over 600 children. It seems like every time I turned around they needed something. I was being pulled in a dozen different directions. And then this afternoon one of the parents stopped by my office to thank me for all of the help. She said they couldn't have pulled it off without us and she was very grateful. And then she went on to thank me for taking care of her child for the last three years I've been the nutrition manager at the school. Say what you will, but having someone recognize your every day actions really feels good.
I use to have a Negative Nelly working for me (and oh what a celebration when she left) and she use to complain that she didn't need anyone to say thank you or give her praise because she was just doing her job (and if they really wanted to thank her they'd give her something tangible). Well I beg to differ. When I receive a compliment on a new item, I always let the person know who was responsible for the dish and I pass along the compliment to the chef. But at the same time I am beaming with pride because I know that delicious meal was prepared in my kitchen, by my staff.
I love the annual 5th grade luau. The parents really did a great job this year. We baked 200 chocolate chip cookies to help out the dessert table and to take advantage of the invitation to eat :). Parents were everywhere I looked this morning as they hustled trying to get everything together. I just smiled to myself as I thought about my employees who hustle everyday to feed over 600 children. It seems like every time I turned around they needed something. I was being pulled in a dozen different directions. And then this afternoon one of the parents stopped by my office to thank me for all of the help. She said they couldn't have pulled it off without us and she was very grateful. And then she went on to thank me for taking care of her child for the last three years I've been the nutrition manager at the school. Say what you will, but having someone recognize your every day actions really feels good.
I use to have a Negative Nelly working for me (and oh what a celebration when she left) and she use to complain that she didn't need anyone to say thank you or give her praise because she was just doing her job (and if they really wanted to thank her they'd give her something tangible). Well I beg to differ. When I receive a compliment on a new item, I always let the person know who was responsible for the dish and I pass along the compliment to the chef. But at the same time I am beaming with pride because I know that delicious meal was prepared in my kitchen, by my staff.
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