March 8, 2024 PD Training

Serving Communities Year-Round

Link

1 in 8 kids in the US faces hunger (as of 2021), approx. 9 million children

At-risk programs can’t operate over the summer but helps fight hunger during school year

SFSP and SSO fill that gap over the summer

Benefits include being able to hire year-round staff, financial stability, offer consistent services, and improve access to resources

Structured non-food programs must be offered, but the child does not have to participate in them

Must be served in congregate, on site settings

There is a non conjugate option for rural sites that don’t have congregate setting

Programs must remain in good standing from year to year, which means there are non significant findings

Eligibility is established with area eligibility and is good for five years

Funds left over at the end of one program can be carried over to the next

(SFSP to At risk, At risk to SFSP)

Reduce food waste by improving quality, improving engagement, introducing a share table, offering ample time to eat, and offering OVS

Can be operated during unexpected closures, like building maintenance or extreme weather

SFSP and SSO sponsors may be preapproved to operate

Sound glitch at around 45:00, returns just before 48:00

Lists resources, short QA

Tailoring Menus to Accommodate Special Diets

Link

Common challenges to understanding managing special diets

Understanding medical statements

Managing multiple allergies

Knowing the specific foods to avoid or substitute

New/unfamiliar requests

Allergic reactions can differ wildly from person to person or exposure to exposure

Never assume that something has been done (like the ingredients list being checked)

A lot of allergens can “sneak” into foods unexpectedly, so you must always check labels

Top nine food allergens: Wheat, egg, soy, dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, sesame

All must be labeled on food packaging in the US

Many states have lists of common substitutions for these allergens (like acceptable milk subs)

Water is never an acceptable sub for milk

Food allergies and food intolerances are not the same

Allergies affect the immune system, intolerances affect the digestive system

For kosher/halal requirements, it is best to find a vendor that specializes those foods

Kosher requires dedicated space/equipment but halal does not(?)

Consider ways to handle texture modifications, which may be temporary or long lasting

There are gradients of possibilities for texture modifications

Meal Innovations

Link

Non congregate meals for rural sites is only allowed for states that opted in

EBT no longer available to children under 6, monthly reimbursement down to $40/mo

SNAP allotments ended, Medicaid and CHIP ended continuous re enrollment

Meal boxes can either require no prep (pre-made, non refrigerated items), frozen and ready to heat, or fresh and ready to heat

Meal boxes can require less skilled labor (like high school students) and therefore can be easier to produce because of more available/cheaper staff