ALEXANDRIA, VA -- 07/09/07 --
Discussing trends and issues facing child
nutrition programs, more than 6,000 school nutrition professionals from all
50 states are expected to gather next week from July 15-18, 2007, in the
McCormick Place Center in Chicago. The agenda of the School Nutrition
Association's 61st Annual National Conference (ANC) delves into topics
including nutrition standards for foods in schools, food safety
inspections, healthy meal options and the status of local wellness policy
implementation one year after federal law mandated every school district
approve a policy.
The world's largest gathering of school nutrition professionals, the
conference includes more than 100 accredited educational breakout sessions
and the largest exhibit hall in the school foodservice industry featuring
400 exhibitors. As they help shape what schoolchildren across the country
will eat for lunch next year, attendees will taste-test new offerings of
nutritious meals, snacks and beverages.
Education sessions will cover timely topics including healthy cooking
techniques, food safety efforts and nutrition standards for vended and a la
carte foods and beverages. The conference will also kick-off this year's
nationwide "Vote for School Lunch" campaign encouraging students to get
involved and spread the word about the positive changes in school lunch
over the years.
Additional conference highlights include:
Exhibit Hall: Variety of innovative and appealing new items to meet
schools' demands for nutritious food. Fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat
flavored milks, 100% juices, reduced fat and organic snacks are among new
products.
Local School Wellness Policy Sessions: Education track on implementation
and evaluation strategies for the policies that every school district was
required by federal law to have in place by the start of the 2006 school
year.
Vote for School Lunch Campaign: Introduction of entrée candidates Jesse
Wrap, Yumi Rice Bowl, Patty Mac and Cheese, Biff Burger and Pippa Potato
and strategies for school special events and student voting
contests/activities.
USDA Commodity Program Sessions: Series of education sessions exploring
changes to the commodity program that have made more nutritious food
products available to school lunch programs.
Global Child Nutrition Forum: School feeding experts from 12 countries
discussing global child nutrition program development, execution and
growth, Forum runs July 12-16, 2007 at the Hilton Towers Hotel.
Accredited education sessions are available on commodities, leadership,
managing resources, marketing, food safety and security and wellness and
nutrition. About 400 exhibitors will display innovative new foods,
beverages, equipment and technology that all contribute to healthy school
meal programs. Members of the press are welcome to attend.
SNA (http://www.schoolnutrition.org), the School Nutrition Association, is
a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than
55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across
the country. The Association and its members are dedicated to feeding
children safe and nutritious meals.
Contact:
Erik Peterson
(703) 739-3900 ext. 124
Email Contact
