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.