upLIFT Newsletter | SY 2022-2023 | Issue 8 | May 2023 |
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The Arizona Department of Education Health and Nutrition Services (HNS) division is excited to continue the "Serve a Rainbow" initiative for this school year! This initiative aims to urge operators to promote a colorful spread of unique and delicious fruits and vegetables for students to enjoy throughout the school year. Every other month, HNS/upLIFT will announce a new "Serve a Rainbow" produce color for your team to feature and serve in your schools. Service can be as simple as a vegetable plated on a tray, or fruits and vegetables intricately presented to students in a colorful display or salad bar! The creativity is up to you!
Students at Queen Creek Unified School District were excited to see a beautiful spread of colorful orange options on their salad bars! The nutrition services team at Jack Barnes Elementary School served a fruity sweet treat of sliced oranges and raspberries and the produce display at Silver Valley Elementary School included orange 'cuties' or tangerines! Students at Eastmark High School were impressed by a delicious bento box that featured hummus, pita, and baby carrots. HNS loves seeing how the nutrition services team at Queen Creek crafted a colorful, appetizing, and creative menu to entice students! |
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The featured color for May and June is... |
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We challenge you to implement what you learn from the monthly webinars and resources to help you serve a unique variety of produce that is rich in color over the course of this school year. Now is the time to show off your bananas, yellow pears, pineapple, corn, and more! HNS encourages you to email pictures of your colorful service lines to Ashley.Kennedy@azed.gov so we can showcase your beautiful produce in future upLIFT newsletters! HNS can't wait to see YOU "serve a rainbow" to your students! |
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Join us for our upcoming upLIFT Webinar!
upLIFT Webinar Series: upLIFT Your Summer Menu with DoD Fresh!
May 16, 2023 at 1:30 pm
Join us in May for our first Summer Edition upLIFT Webinar, where we will explore the important role that DoD Fresh and community partnerships play in providing healthy meals to children during the summer months. This webinar will feature guest speaker Lindsay Aguilar, Director of Food Services at Tucson Unified School District, who has successfully utilized DoD Fresh to enhance their summer menus. Listen as we outline the benefits of using DoD Fresh for summer meal programs, ways to effectively coordinate with community partners to maximize impact, best practices for highlighting the use of DoD Fresh in marketing and outreach efforts, and success stories from schools and community organizations who have incorporated DoD Fresh in their summer meal programs. This webinar is not to be missed! |
Laveen Elementary School District celebrates Earth Day!
The Earth Day celebration at Laveen Elementary School District was a fun and educational way to serve lunch! The Reptile Nuggets were shaped like different reptiles, which was a huge hit with the kids. Sunshine Crackers were a mix of whole wheat flour, sunflower seeds, and other healthy ingredients that provided a good source of energy. Sliced cucumbers were a refreshing addition to the menu, while providing a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals, and fresh cantaloupe was the perfect sweet treat to end the meal. The students at Laveen were happy to enjoy a fun and delicious lunch!
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Research Rundown
This month's Research Rundown article investigates the impact that food marketing exposure can have on children's attitudes, preferences, and consumption of foods. It also suggests creative ways to promote meal service programs by emphasizing breakfast and lunch, creating fun themes, and showcasing the enjoyable aspects of serving students. Read through this research rundown to learn about the impact that marketing can have on the foods that you choose to serve at your schools! |
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Featured Food - Yellow Pear!
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Together, we can influence positive
dietary behaviors in students! |
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. |
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