On behalf of Karen Wooton, Coordinator

and staff of DESE, Food and Nutrition Ser-

vices (FNS), the section sends its best

wish-es to local education agencies (LEAs)

for a successful 2018-2019 school year.

Missouri’s LEAs are encouraged to keep

staff’s directory information handy for

questions LEAs may have throughout the

year.

Karen Wooton, Coordinator

(573-751-3526)

Kevin Gorsage, Director (573-751-1972)

Ellen Rees, School Nutrition Program Manager (573-751-3852) fields questions

and provides assistance to any LEAs

independent of regional location.

Chad Maize, Lead Nutrition Program Analyst (573-751-7472) fields questions

and provides assistance to any LEAs independent of regional location.

Nutrition Program Specialists perform

Administrative Reviews and are available to

assist schools in interpreting current

school meal regulations. The following list

is pro-vided based on roles and regions.

Nutrition Program Specialists

NE Region – Claudia Vincent

Central Region – Samantha Taggart

East Region – Sarah Wiskirchen

SE Region – Pamela Heimericks

SE Central Region – Vacant SW Central Region – Abbie McFerron SW

Region – Kayla Misera

West Region – Steven House

NW Region – Leah Schmidt

RCCI & Charter Schools – Keely Hawkins

Food Management Contracts/Audits Becky Hart, Nutrition Contract Specialist

(573-751-7664)

Procurement

Barbara Shaw, Nutrition Procurement

Specialist (573-522-9849)

Applications/Claims Processing

Jill Rehagen, Nutrition Finance Manager (573-751-4402)

Michelle Graziano, Adm. Assistant

(Tuesday and Friday only,

573-751-7564)

Donated Food Program

Josh Winters, Director

(573-522-1974)

Lisa Percival Food Distribution Specialist

(573-751-7253)

DeeDee Kilson, Program Specialist

(573-751-1706)

Amy Halderman, Adm. Assistant

(573-751-2646)

Darla Hickey, Adm. Assistant, fields all

calls on behalf of the section

(573-751-3526)

In partnership with FNS is the

Department of Health & Senior Services,

Team Nutri-tion staff who sponsor

programs such as salad bar promotional

events, Rainbow Days and FreshLIFE, and

the Culinary Skills Institute (CSI).

Team Nutrition

Alma Hopkins, Nutrition Specialist

(573-751-2342)

Lisa Farmer, Nutrition Specialist

(816-521-7740)

2018-2019 FNS’ Staff Updates I N S I D E

T H I S

I S S U E :

DESE FNS

Staff

Updates

1

Flexibility for

Co-mingled

Pre-K Meals

2

MO Team

Nutrition

Programs

R 4 Schools!

3

Donated

Food Program

Update

4

Food and Nutrition Services N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8

West Englewood

Elementary, NKC

SD participates in

Rainbow Days 2018!!

P A G E 2

Schools that serve

meals to pre-

schoolers and K-5

students in the

same service area

at the same time

may choose one of

two options:

1) to follow the

grade-

appropriate

meal patterns

for each grade

group (i.e.

CACFP for

Pre-K)

OR

2) serve the K-5

meal pattern to

both grade groups.

Flexibility for Co-mingled Preschool Meals

As of October 1, 2017, schools serving meals

to infants and preschoolers must comply with

the updated Child and Adult Care Food Pro-

gram (CACFP) meal pattern requirements. In

reference to USDA SP 37-2017, some schools

serve meals to preschoolers and grades K-5

students in the same service area at the

same time.

These co-mingled situations may create

counting and claiming issues. Based on stake-

holder feedback, it is in the best interest of the

Child Nutrition Programs to allow a single

menu flexibility when preschoolers and K-5

students are in the same service area at the

same time. Although the flexibility is availa-

ble, USDA encourages schools to serve stu-

dents their grade appropriate meal pattern.

Are schools allowed to follow the K-5

meal pattern when preschoolers are not

co-mingled with K-5 students?

When preschoolers are served meals in a dif-

ferent area or at a different time than K-5

students, schools must follow the CACFP pre-

school meal pattern. The option to serve the

K-5 meal pattern to preschoolers is only al-

lowed when preschoolers are co-mingled with K-5 students during meal service.

Information on the new preschool meal

pattern are as follows:

Pre-K meal Pattern - CACFP for an over-

view

Child Nutrition Programs Meal Pattern

Comparison Chart

For additional information, please refer

to the DESE website at:

https://dese.mo.gov/financial-admin-

services/food-nutrition-services/new-

meal-pattern

Some of the key changes to the

child CACFP meal patterns affecting

schools are as follows:

The combined fruit and vegetable compo-

nent is now a separate vegetable compo-

nent and a separate fruit component

Juice is limited to once per day

At least one serving of grains per day

must be whole grain-rich

Grain-based desserts no longer count

towards the grain component

Ounce equivalents (oz. eq.) are used to

determine the amount of creditable grains

Meat and meat alternates may be served

in place of the entire grains component

at breakfast a maximum of three times

per week

Tofu counts as a meat alternate

A new age group to address the needs of

older children 13 through 18 years old.

Yogurt must contain no more than 23

grams of sugar per 6 ounces

Breakfast cereals must contain no

more than 6 grams of sugar per

dry ounce

Unflavored whole milk must be served to

1 year olds; unflavored low-fat or fat-free

milk must be served to children 2 through

5 years old; and unflavored low-fat, unfla-

vored fat-free, or flavored fat-free milk

must be served to children 6 years old

and older and adults

• Non-dairy milk substitutes that are nutri-

tionally equivalent to milk may be served in place of milk to children or adults with medical or special dietary needs

• Extends offer versus serve to at-risk af-

terschool programs

• Frying is not allowed as a way

of prepar-ing foods on-site

F O O D A N D N U T R I T I O N S E R V I C E S

P A G E 3

Missouri Team Nutrition (TN) offers a variety of

programs and resources for LEAs. Sponsored by the

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services and in

close partnership with DESE’s FNS, TN’s main web site is

www.health.mo.gov/teamnutrition. The following are

programs currently available for schools:

CSI is a culinary program for staff. Nutrition person-

nel are encouraged to visit the web link for updates

on up and coming trainings. Plans are underway for

Spring 2019 training! Web announcements will be

posted here: https://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/

nutrition/culinaryskills/ along with a DESE email

announcement.

Fall and winter months are perfect times to enroll

into the next two programs—Rainbow Days & Fresh-

LIFE! The I Made A Rainbow at the Salad bar Pro-

gram, otherwise known as Rainbow Days is a popular

promotional event for elementary schools with salad

bars. Supplies, posters and $200 stipends are

provided.

FreshLIFE: Enjoy a Salad Today! is the sister program to

Rainbow Days offered at middle and high schools with

a salad bar. Its own promotional materials, posters

and supplies along with a $200 stipend per school site

are provided.

• Healthy Schools. Healthy Kids. Healthy Future. campaign offers a variety of school wellness resources available to

order. Handouts for parents on Healthy Role Model-ing,

Healthy Snacks, School Wellness 101, Breakfast = Achievement may be ordered through the literature request form. A Missouri tool kit to assist schools with

Recess before Lunch is available to download. Schools

interested to learn what parents had to say about their

participation in school wellness efforts are encouraged to

download a project report titled Engaging Missouri Parents

into School Wellness programs.

Questions/Assistance:

Alma Hopkins, Project Director

Missouri Team Nutrition in Schools

alma.hopkins@health.mo.gov

573.751.2342

Team Nutrition Programs R 4 Schools!

Ritenour SD participates in RD 2018!

Food and Nutrition Services

P.O. Box 480, 205 Jefferson Street

Jefferson City, Mo 65102

Phone # 573-751-3526

https://dese.mo.gov/financial-admin-services/food-nutrition-services/

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in

its programs and activities. Inquiries related to Department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facil ities that are accessible by

persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Civil Rights Compliance (Title VI/Title IX/504/ADA/Age Act), 205

Jefferson Street, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or Relay Missouri 800-735-2966. In accordance with Federal

law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age

or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington,

D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Commodity Expo February 5, 2019 Join the DESE, FNS staff to experience a one day food show and a day to network with other food service

directors, managers and head cooks from across the state. This year the event will be ONE day only in

Columbia’s Holiday Inn Executive Center. There will be an informational session about the USDA Foods

Program which includes future enhancements.

As always, the food show will close out the day with DESE, FNS staff offering technical assistance to LEAs

on completing the Processing Packet.

If you have challenges or questions about the Processing Packet, the Expo will

be an opportune time to work one-on-one with DESE, FNS staff to provide assurances the food orders are fully complete for SY 19-20.

The Expos have proven to be a worthwhile time for everyone and ALL LEAs are encouraged to join. The USDA Foods Program is a great benefit to your programs, and we hope you make plans to join us to learn how you can maximize your utilization of the USDA Foods.

Please stay tuned for future announcements on registration information.