Nutritionally and Financially! Staying Fit Nutritionally and Financially! Staying Fit Nutritionally and Financially! School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference July 15, 2007 Amy L. Harkey, MS,RD,LDN Harkey, A.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Charlotte, NC 2007-2008 163 Schools 137,279 Students 45.5% Free and Reduced

Child Nutrition Services Self-Operated 25,000 Breakfasts Daily 73,000 Lunches Daily 33,000 Adult & Ala Carte Daily 15,500 After School Snacks Daily 1,300 Cafeteria Employees 28 Central Office Staff

NC Nutrition Standards Pilot for Elementary Schools January – May 2005, Piloted and held harmless for losses in 7 NC School Districts 124 Elementary Schools $5,377 Average Revenue Loss per School $330,665 Total Revenue Loss

NC Nutrition Standards Grades K-5 NC Board of Education Policy October 6, 2006 Compliant with Current Edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans USDA School Meals Initiative

NC Nutrition Standards Elementary Meals 20-35% Fat average per week ≤ 10% Saturated Fat Sodium and Trans Fat kept as low as possible 200 mg Cholesterol average per week, breakfast and lunch combined

Fried Foods not allowed Whole Grain Serving offered Daily, will be increased to 8 servings per week Fruits and/or Vegetables, four servings offered daily Legumes offered once week Milk 1% or less fat

NC Nutrition Standards Ala Carte ≤ 35% Total Fat ≤ 10% Saturated Fat ≤ 1% Trans Fat ≤ 1 ounce Nuts and Seeds ≤ 35% Added Sugar by weight

Milk 1% or less fat Single Serving Yogurt or Frozen Yogurt Water 50% or more Fruit Juice with no added sweeteners ≤ 8 oz 100% Frozen Fruit with no added sweeteners ≤ 8 oz

NC Nutrition Standards Single Serving Dairy ≤ 35% Total Fat ≤ 10% Saturated Fat ≤ 1% Trans Fat ≤ 200 Calories ≤ 35% Added Sugar by weight

NC Nutrition Standards After School Snack Programs All food and beverages available to students shall meet the same criteria required for Ala Carte foods and beverages

NC Nutrition Standards Requirements All NC Elementary Schools shall implement no later than the first day of the 2008 school year Child Nutrition Services Section of the Department of Public Instruction shall monitor progress and compliance annually

Lobbying NC State Legislators Child Nutrition needs Legislative Support Funds requested to implement Nutrition Standards in Elementary Schools: $25 per student per year = $15 million May 2007 Child Nutrition Standards now line item in State Budget

Why NC Nutrition Standards? The Standards are being put in place to improve the health of the children in North Carolina It is an investment in our future

How did CMS Child Nutrition Services get there?

Slowly, We Crept

Step by Step Recipe by Recipe Year by Year

2001 Removed Fryers in Elementary Schools All Grade Levels met SMI Began reducing total fat, saturated fat and sugar in Elementary Ala Carte Nutritional Analysis on all recipes Vegetarian Entrees offered daily

2002-2004 Vegan Entrees Introduced 10% Fruit Juices Eliminated Nutrition Education added to Printed and Internet Menu Whole Milk Eliminated Introduced a Low Fat Reimbursable Lunch “in a box”

2005-2006 Continued Improving Ala Carte Nutritional Value Whole Grain Product Selection Increased Grab and Go Breakfast Introduced On-Line Payment Program Implemented

CMS Child Nutrition Services August 2006 met NC Standards in all Elementary Schools Dessert recipes modified to meet nutritional guidelines Cafeteria Managers trained at Back to School Workshop

Revised Product Specification CMS opted to limit daily dessert selections to 5 items or less Managers may offer one flavor of the following: cookie, cake, fruit pie, pudding, approved convenience snack

Administrative Challenges Procurement of Convenience and Trans Fat Free Items Budgetary Impact due to Increase in Usage of Fresh Produce, Whole Grain and Convenience Products Revenue Reduction in Ala Carte Sales due to Limited Selection

Nutritional Challenges Increasing Nutrient Density, Fiber and Whole Grains Sodium Restriction Compliance Recipe Revision and Testing Portion Control Compliance

Templates and Charts

Human Challenges Principal, Manager, Employee and Customer “Buy-In” Emphasis on Reimbursable Meals verses Ala Carte Sales Nutrition Education

Impact on Elementary School Participation

Number of Paid + Reduced + Free Meals Divided by Number of Days Divided by Average Daily Attendance

Number of Paid Meals Divided by Number of Days Divided by Average Daily Attendance of Paid Students

Impact on Elementary School Revenue

Reimbursement + Cash + Ala Carte + Money on Account Divided by Number of Days

NC Nutrition Standards Middle Schools Standards are being drafted to pilot CMS Initiatives January 2006, selected five middle schools to pilot “No French Fries” July 2006, removed all fryers August 2006, eliminated French Fries and restaurant delivered pizza

Introduced “Pizza Fridays”

Impact on Middle School Participation

Number of Paid + Reduced + Free Meals Divided by Number of Days Divided by Average Daily Attendance

Number of Paid Meals Divided by Number Days Divided by Average Daily Attendance of Paid Students

Impact on Middle School Revenue

Reimbursement + Cash + Ala Carte + Money on Account Divided by Number of Days

CMS High Schools August 2006 Introduced Reimbursable Pizza Combo Meal Streamlined Menu Eliminated Low Volume Items Introduced Build a Hoagie Bar

CMS High School Goals Continue Nutritional Improvement of Ala Carte Selections Increase Participation Participate in drafting NC Nutrition Standards for High Schools and Implement before Mandated

Get the Word Out!

Since 2001 CMS Child Nutrition Services has had over 161 Media Interviews Local Newspapers Radio Stations Local and Internal Television Stations

Web-Based Parent Access to Lunch Accounts Monitor Purchases and Balances E-mail when Low Balance Debit or Credit Card Payment Automatic Drafts

“Teachable Moments” Budgeting Money on Account Nutrition Education Special Diet Compliance

Market Your Program Child Nutrition Web Pages Partnership with Local Health Department, Sports Teams 150,000 Calendars Distributed 100,000 Monthly Menus Distributed

Posters for Schools

Join in the School Spirit

Wall Art to Promote Health

Customer Service Training “You Can Make A Difference” Required for CN Staff Communications Skills Team Building Speak the Universal Language -

“S M I L E!”

"Stay Fit!"

Amy L. Harkey, MS,RD,LDN Assistant Director Child Nutrition Services 980-343-0663 amy.harkey@cms.k12.nc.us