Have a very Merry Christmas!

C-FB ISD Student Nutrition would like to wish you and your families a safe and Merry Christmas! A big thank you goes out to all of our wonderful staff members who work so tirelessly to provide nutritious and delicious meals to our student population! We would also like to thank our CFB schools' staff members, students and parents for making us proud to be part of the CFB tradition of success! Merry Christmas!

Manager Christmas Party 2013

Each year, we like to bring all of our hard-working managers together to celebrate their great work and to show our appreciation for all that they do! Check out the fun we had this year with crazy hats, goofy managers, and an ornament exchange! A big thank you to all of the managers that attended! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.272555239562509.1073741834.199045663580134&type=3&uploaded=18

Holiday Swaps for a Healthier You

The holidays tend to be a time when quite a bit of eating occurs. The availability of foods during the holidays makes it difficult to maintain healthy eating habits and caloric intake. Read here for some great tips on recipe substitutions that can be made to your favorite holiday recipes to keep you and your family on track: http://ow.ly/rD5sS

Tell us about some of your favorite healthy recipes below!

Healthy, Holiday Makeover for MyPlate

Check out this great information on a healthier, holiday makeover MyPlate from the US Dept. of Agriculture! It demonstrates some healthy holiday swaps and what your plate should look like after you fill it up: http://ow.ly/rD8lT

Early Release Days This Week

Just a reminder for you and your families: Thursday, December 19th and Friday, December 20th are EARLY RELEASE DAYS! Don't forget!

Tasty Menu Options for CFB Students

C-FB students are offered a variety of foods to choose from each day! Each of our four high schools are equipped with 5 main lines: All-American, Pasta Perfetta, Sabroso Tex-Mex, Wok, and Salad Express! So many healthy and tasty options to choose from! You can check out our wonderful menu offerings as well as the nutritional information for them here: http://ow.ly/rGofr

Check Out MySchoolBucks for Online Pre-Pay

Worried about forgetting to check your child's lunch account balance before we return in January? That is no problem with our new, online pre-payment system, My School Bucks. This great system allows you to set up email reminders that let you know when your child's account balance is low and recurring payments that make it easier to keep your child's balance positive! Check out My School Bucks and some of its other great features here: http://ow.ly/rDd71

C-FB Spreads Christmas Spirit

C-FB Cafeteria Personnel love to spread the Christmas spirit to our students and staff! Check out all of the excellent decor that they put up to celebrate the holidays this year! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.269779649840068.1073741833.199045663580134&type=3&uploaded=15

Healthy Holiday Baking

High fat, high sugar, baked goods can be very available during the holidays especially. Read more here to find out how to make small substitutions and changes to your recipes for happier and healthier holiday: http://ow.ly/rpotK

Food Explorer of the Month: Greens (December 17)

Greens

Turnip leaves are sometimes eaten as turnip greens, and they resemble mustard greens in flavor. Turnip greens are a common side dish in southeastern US cooking, primarily during late fall and winter. Smaller leaves are preferred; however, any bitter taste of larger leaves can be reduced by pouring off the water from initial boiling and replacing it with fresh water. Turnip greens also provide tons of calcium for bone health as well as fiber, vitamins A, K, and C, and folate. By eating this delicious vegetable, you can decrease your risk of developing cancer, inflammatory conditions, and infections. Encounter greens on December 17^th, it is sort of like a hot salad to warm you up in the winter.

Check out a great Greens recipe here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Turnip-Greens-105051

Reading Restaurant Nutrition Facts

Did you know that restaurants with a large number of chains are required to provide the nutritional facts for their menu items to consumers? Checking this nutrition information can help you make healthier choices for you and your family! Many restaurants who do not provide in-store nutrition information have it available on their website so that you can check it at home and decide on a healthier choice before you get to the restaurant! You can read more about getting nutrition facts here: http://ow.ly/rpm5q

Tell us about some of your favorite restaurant's healthy options below!

Walk for Your Health

When was the last time you and your family went walking? Research shows that taking a walk each day has physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It can also be a great way to spend more quality time with your family! Read more here:
 http://ow.ly/rpjVy 

December's Did You Know....SCHOOL MEALS HELP KIDS MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT!

SCHOOL MEALS HELP KIDS MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT!

- Research conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture reports that students who eat school meals provided through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program are more likely to be at a healthy weight.
- United States Department of Agriculture also found that students who consume school lunches are more likely than non-participants to consume vegetables, milk and milk products, and meat and other protein-rich foods, both at lunch and over 24 hours. They also report that students participating in school meals consume less soda and/or fruit drinks.
- Students are less likely to gain weight during the school year when in school then during the summer when school is out.
- For the 2013-14 school year, CFB ISD received almost $100,000 in grants to build up nutrition and fitness programs for students!

Tell us how your kids fuel for fitness at home!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD's Student Nutrition Department would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving! Have a safe and happy holiday!
 

Healthy Kids for the Holidays

Getting your kids involved in cooking is a great way to help them develop an understanding of healthy eating habits and the importance of eating at home! Let your kids help to prepare healthy foods for the holidays. Get some kid-friendly, healthy, holiday recipes from our Healthy Holiday Pinterest board: http://ow.ly/r6lSy

Crazy for Cranberries

Research shows that cranberries are a valuable and nutritious fruit to consume on a regular basis! Read more here to learn about the great benefits of cranberries: http://ow.ly/r6fUl

Read more here to find some healthy, holiday recipes that will allow you to incorporate cranberries: http://ow.ly/r6g41

Portion Control for Healthier Holiday

Overeating at the holidays can be easily done. Watch this video for some great tips on how to watch you and your family's portion sizes this holiday: http://ow.ly/r6hTC http://ow.ly/i/3OdJY

Healthy Thanksgiving Treats

Thanksgiving is approaching quickly! Watch this video to learn more about some healthy holiday treats that your family enjoy:
http://www.digtriad.com/news/gms/article/306037/67/Healthy-Alternatives-To-Favorite-Thanksgiving-Dishes

Healthier Football-Friendly Swaps

Football season is in full swing now! Foods associated with football season can prove to be very unhealthy for you and your family! Check out this article for more information on healthier football-friendly swaps: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/11/09/eat-this-not-that-tailgating-treats/

Teamwork at Creekview HS

Check out the Creekview High School staff demonstrating hard work, teamwork, and dedication to feeding CFB students! Way to go ladies! You make Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Student Nutrition Department so proud!

Food Explorer of the Month: Pumpkin (November 19)

Pumpkin

A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash and is native to North America. They typically have a thick orange or yellow shell, creased from the stem to the bottom, containing the seeds and pulp. Pumpkins are used both in food and recreation. Pumpkin pie, for instance, is a traditional part of Thanksgiving meals in the United States, and pumpkins are frequently carved into jack o’lanterns as decorations around Halloween. In addition to many other antioxidants, pumpkin is high in vitamin A, C, and E, niacin, copper and carotenes. Eating this beautiful vegetable can help maintain good eye health and heart health. On November 19^th you can eat Pumpkin, just like the Pilgrims did in the Pumpkin casserole.

Try delicious pumpkin casserole here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pumpkin-casserole-2/

Student Nutrition Promotes Dairy Product Consumption

Student Nutrition loves promoting healthy, nutritious food intake to our students! This year we are placing our focus on the promotion of dairy! Dairy products provide calcium, vitamin D, and protein which are all necessary nutrients for our bodies! Every one of CFB's 37 sites are promoting dairy by offering all students and staff a free skim milk at one event and a free yogurt parfait at another event! By introducing and encouraging children to enjoy these dairy items, we hope to increase dairy consumption in our district significantly! Check out some of the great ways we are promoting dairy:

Healthy Hints for Pain-Free, Inexpensive Grocery Shopping

Do you struggle to make healthy choices when you grocery shop? Shopping can be stressful! Read more here to learn helpful tips on how to be a more healthful, cost-effective, and pain-free grocery shopper: http://ow.ly/qD158 http://ow.ly/i/3FmW1 http://ow.ly/i/3Fn03

Fruit of the Month: Pears (November 8)

Pears

Pears have been recognized as one of the 20 most popular fruits by the Food and Drug Administration, and it's no wonder why! There is a lot of nutrition in this one sweet and juicy package. Actually, most of the nutrients are in the skin so make sure to eat the whole piece of fruit. In addition, this tasty fruit is packed with vitamins C and K and fiber and only 100 calories per serving. Even better, it is sodium-, fat-, and cholesterol-free! Be sure to pick up a pear on November 8th!

Pick a pear package with some of these tasty recipes: http://www.usapears.com/Recipes%20And%20Lifestyle/Now%20Serving/Recipes.aspx

November's Did You Know...SCHOOL MEALS ARE SAFE!

SCHOOL MEALS ARE SAFE!

- School nutrition professionals have rigorous training in food safety and have implemented a HACCP plan. Hazard analysis and critical control points, or HACCP, is a systematic preventative approach to food safety that is used in the food industry.
- School kitchens are among the safest of commercial and institutional food service establishments, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
- School kitchens are subject to at least two health inspections annually conducted by one of our local health departments. C-FB ISD has schools in five cities. Therefore, our food safety program benefits from collective knowledge of Health Department inspectors employed by the cities of Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Irving, Dallas, and Coppell. Our schools averaged a score of 95 on Health Inspections conducted in 2011-12 and we received a perfect score of a 100 eleven times during the year.
- Texas Health Code requires each food establishment or cafeteria have at least one staff member that is certified as a Food Protection Manager. In C-FB ISD, every school cafeteria has at a minimum, two employees that are certified and experts in food safety. Overall, approximately 45% of the cafeteria staff in C-FB ISD are Certified Food Service Managers.

 

Healthy Halloween Alternatives

Check out some of our rad recipes for replacing sweet treats with healthy Halloween alternatives on our Pinterest page: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/432134526716361312/

An Apple a Day Packs a Powerful Punch!

Research shows that an apple a day packs powerful punch! Did you know that CFB Students are offered 2 different fruits and 2 different vegetables at lunch each day?

Tell us about your favorite fruits and vegetables below!
http://www.timesnews.net/article/9069079/apple-a-day-packs-powerful-punch-with-recipes

Check Out Great Menu Options for Your Students

When was the last time you checked out what meal options were available to your student(s) for breakfast and lunch? Visit our website for menu options as well as great information including nutrient content for those menu items:
 http://cfbisdnutrition.com/Menus

"Slow, Whoa, and Go" Program to Teach Students Healthy Eating Habits

CFB Student Nutrition is proud to use different methods to educate children on how to make healthier food choices. One particularly successful technique for doing so is our "Slow, Whoa, and Go" program in our Elementary Schools. Each day th...e cafeteria managers label each of the foods being served with a "Slow", "Whoa" or "Go" label to let students know which foods are more healthful choices as well as which foods are less heathful. We enjoy doing our part to help the students develop healthy habits while in CFB schools!

Using an At-Home Tasting Game to Up Vegetable Intake

Do you struggle to get your child(ren) to accept vegetables? Read more about how an at-home tasting game can help to increase your child's vegetable intake and also help you to vary your vegetables:

http://whtc.com/news/articles/2013/oct/17/at-home-tasting-game-helps-kids-accept-vegetables/

Tips on Handling Halloween Sweet Consumption

Concerned about your child(ren)'s candy intake with Halloween approaching? Read more from health professionals on how to handle the Halloween holiday: http://www.wrex.com/story/23651098/2013/10/09/area-health-professionals-weigh-in-on-halloween-candy http://ow.ly/i/3oBw8

Student Nutrition Celebrates National School Lunch Week

National School Lunch Week Aims to Get Kids Excited About Healthy Choices

More than 32 million children eat school lunch everyday across the USA. The federally-funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides nutritionally balanced, healthy meals to students everyday. The program, which has been serving the nation’s children for over 60 years, requires school meals to meet federal, healthy nutrition standards by:

• Ensuring students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;
• Substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods;
• Offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties;
• Limiting calories based on the age of children being served; and
• Reducing amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.

To celebrate the healthy lunch choices in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, schools will celebrate National School Lunch Week during the week of October 14-18, 2013. The theme, “School Lunch Across the USA”, will include events and activities that promote the benefits of healthy school lunches. It will also celebrate the flavors, ingredients, and culture of various regions of the USA. The campaign will put a spotlight on the healthy foods and positive changes that Carrollton-Farmers Branch schools have incorporated into their menus.

To get the students involved in celebrating the “School Lunch Across the USA” campaign, students will have the opportunity to win coupons for several of the schools’ newly introduced, healthy a la carte items throughout the week. At the end of the week, each elementary will also draw one student’s name who will win a Nook Simple Touch™, a prize that will also promote reading and education. Parents also have the opportunity to get involved in National School Lunch week by participating in the “Take Your Parents to Lunch Day” on Friday, October 18, 2013. On this day, parents will be able to come to their child’s school and enjoy the delicious meal options provided. Join us this coming week to celebrate the delicious and nutritious meals served daily to Carrollton-Farmers Branch students that help them to be successful in the school environment.

October's Did You Know...CFB ISD HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST CHAIN RESTAURANTS IN TOWN!

CFB ISD HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST CHAIN RESTAURANTS IN TOWN!

- The Student Nutrition Department operates 37 cafeterias within the district.
- There are approximately 250 employees who serve over 4,400 breakfasts and 16,000 lunches every school day. That is over 3.5 millions meals per year!
- Cafeteria staff prepares nothing short of a convoy of food for our students each year. Last year students consumed...
         - 180,095 pounds of chicken- that would fill 5 semi-truck trailers
         - 131,931 pounds of beef- that is over 3 semi-truck trailers
         - 41,172 pounds of mozzarella cheese- 1 truckload
         - 36,834 pounds of cheddar cheese- 1 truckload
         - 32,471 pounds of eggs- 3/4 of a truckload
         - 24,630 pounds of tomato sauce and ketchup- 2/3 of a truckload
         - 187,392 gallons of milk- 21 tanker trucks!

Tell us about your child's favorite school meals below!

Fruit of the Month: Cantaloupe (October 4)

Cantaloupe

Large, sweet and well-netted cantaloupes are grown in Texas. Texas cantaloupes including Pecos melons are known for their excellent flavor and quality. Cantaloupes can get as heavy as 5 kilograms or over 10 pounds! This delicious, yummy fruit is low in calories, cholesterol- and fat-free, and very high in great antioxidants including vitamins A and C. Catch yourself a cantaloupe on October 4!

Check out some crazy good cantaloupe recipes here: http://allrecipes.com/recipes/fruits-and-vegetables/fruits/melons/cantaloupes/

 

 

Food Explorer of the Month: Beets (October 9)

Beets

The usually deep red roots of beetroot are eaten either grilled, boiled, or roasted as a cooked vegetable, cold as a salad after cooking and adding oil and vinegar, or raw and shredded, either alone or combined with any salad vegetable. A large proportion of the beets are canned or made into pickles.  In Indian cuisine, chopped, cooked, spiced beet is a common side dish. Eating beets provides you with tons of potassium, fiber, magnesium, iron, and vitamin A. Pile up on this vegetable can lower blood pressure and improve mental health. On October 9^th be adventurous, try the Beet Pickles!

Try some healthy beet-based recipes here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/wolfgang-puck/roasted-root-vegetable-medley-recipe/index.html

Quick Tips for Sneaking in Breakfast

Breakfast provides your child(ren) with food that will provide energy to get them through the day and be successful at school! Here are some quick tips to make sure they participate in this very important meal: http://www.forbes.com/sites/marijkevroomendurning/2013/09/23/8-great-on-the-go-breakfasts-for-hectic-mornings/

Children Are Getting More Vegetables Into Diet by Eating School Lunch!

What's the Real School Lunch News? 31+ Million American Children Get More Vegetables Every Day! Read more here: http://huff.to/1eCzlSK

Carollton Elementary Shows Off Seasonal Spirit!

Check out the pretty decor at Carrollton Elementary! All of our schools decorate seasonally to get the students and staff pumped up!

Finding Smarter Snacks for Your Children!

School Snacks are Changing! School districts are providing better snack choices for your children. Read more about what districts are doing and what you can do at home to improve snack choices here:

http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/finding-smarter-snacks-for-your-students/article_e5f37b4c-0eca-11e3-8c20-0019bb2963f4.html

Staff at Blair Elementary Shows Off Tasty Menu Items

 

Check out the friendly staff at our very own Blair Elementary School! The staff is very proud of the tasty food they prepare and serve daily!