The creation and marketing of high-quality professional development programs require the support of a number of partners including vendors, School Nutrition Association members, nonprofits, professional experts and school districts. One of school nutrition’s greatest professional growth allies is the School Nutrition Foundation.
SNF programs are developed to meet specific training needs for SNA members and to support the SNA certification and credentialing programs. Current professional development programs are listed below. See Related Links for more information on the Foundation and the programs it supports.
Current Programs
Bridges to Wellness Lessons
SNF and the National Dairy Council have partnered to develop Bridges to Wellness: Connecting School Meals and Classroom Learning, a set of interactive, nutrition education lessons for students in grades 5-10. These lessons are designed to provide classroom instruction with school nutrition program-based application activities. Bridges to Wellness will help school districts meet the nutrition education goals in their local school wellness policies. Bridges to Wellness also supports the historic intent of the school nutrition programs to provide a learning laboratory for school-based nutrition education. All lessons are reviewed by both teachers and school nutrition operators with experience with the targeted student grade levels.
Healthy Edge
Healthy Edge: Building Healthy School Meals is a professional development program that educates school nutrition professionals about many aspects of nutrition. The course is broken into four interactive and engaging modules: Nutrition, Nutrition Education, Preparing and Serving Healthy School Meals, and Building Partnerships and Marketing. To register for Healthy Edge please visit www.snuniversity.org.
Prime Purchasing Practices
Prime Purchasing Practices: A Child Nutrition Guide to Purchasing teaches basic concepts and best practices in purchasing to school nutrition managers and directors. PPP reinforces the links between the overall procurement process, including bids, and day-to-day activities at the school and district level that impact cost control, ethical behavior, and applicable laws and regulations. To sign up to be notified when Prime Purchasing Practices becomes available, click here to fill out an information request form.
SNS Credentialing Exam Study Guide
The Child Nutrition Foundation developed the Credentialing Study Guide to assist users in preparing for the SNA Credentialing Exam. The Guide reinforces subject matter and lessons learned through activities, review questions and a comprehensive review exam.
Expanding Breakfast
The Expanding Breakfast Manual and Video Kit – Second Edition is designed to help schools start an alternative breakfast service. This hands-on, step-by-step guide takes school nutrition professionals through operational and financial considerations in addition to key elements of the breakfast programs. Expanding Breakfast will be available at School Nutrition University in the spring of 2009. To sign up to be notified when it is online, click here to fill out an information request form.
Keys to Excellence
Keys to Excellence in School Food and Nutrition Programs is a streamlined, online self-assessment tool for child nutrition programs. The District of Excellence Distinct is the formal recognition component of Keys to Excellence.
Placing a Priority on Program Development
The School Nutrition Foundation has been providing School Nutrition Association members with professional development and education programs for many years. The needs of the school foodservice business and child nutrition industry change over time. In order to keep Association members current on the latest developments, the Foundation places priority on assessing the professional development and education needs of members. SNF continues to survey SNA's membership to determine new content prorities and develop timely education and training opportunities.