More Than 6,000 Gather For National School Nutrition Conference In Chicago

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Eating Disorders;  Conferences
Article Date: 11 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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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 xx 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, 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.

School Nutrition Association