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M-DCPS FOOD AND NUTRITION DEPARTMENT MIAMI — Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves food that is not only hearty and nutritious - it is award-winning. M-DCPS recently received the District of Excellencein Child Nutrition designation by the School Nutrition Association (SNA). This prestigious designation recognizes school districts that score 80 percent or higher on SNA’s Keys to Excellence. The Keys criteria include addressing general nutrition and nutrition education, administration, communications and marketing, and operations. The guidelines provide a uniform procedure for school districts to compare their program to the industry’s model of practice while helping to meet their goals to serve healthy, delicious food in a cost-effective way. After completing the Keys, directors can compare their foodservice programs to districts nationwide. Additionally, they provide foodservice directors with ideas to help promote excellence in foodservice throughout the school community. The Keys offer guidance on involving the entire school in student nutrition, for example, by using a menu to teach about nutrition with the cafeteria serving as the learning laboratory. The district’s Food and Nutrition department serves on average 69,479 breakfasts and 203,294 lunches a day. The menu includes everything from hamburgers to Asian chicken wraps and premium salads. SNA 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. The district has also been recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. For additional information, contact Carol Chong of the Department of Food and Nutrition at 786-275-0446. # # # 05-LJG/169/DF |
