May 7-11, 2012 is School Nutrition Employee Week

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Created on Friday, 04 May 2012 12:14

Dr. Michael J. Martirano, Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 178
Mr. J. Bradley Clements, Chief Operating Officer, 301-475-4256, ext. 7

LEONARDTOWN, MD – Preparing healthy school meals, promoting healthy nutrition habits, and offering a friendly greeting is all in a day’s work for the 150 school nutrition employees in St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS). School Nutrition Employee Week is celebrated May 7-11, 2012, and is an opportunity for parents, students, school staff, and the community to thank those who offer healthy school meals to SMCPS’s more than 17,500 children each school day.

School nutrition employees must balance many roles and follow numerous federal, state, and local regulations to ensure safe and healthy meals are available in schools. They are trained sanitation and food safety experts and must manage financially self-sufficient programs. School nutrition professionals also provide nutrition education to students by use of their creative ability to make the cafeteria a fun and welcoming place all year long. They perform their jobs each day because they care passionately about the children they serve.

The importance and nutritional value of school meals are well documented. For many children, school lunch is the most important and nutrient-rich meal of their day. In fact, federal regulations ensure that every school lunch offers students their choice of milk, servings of fruit and vegetables, grains, and protein foods. School meals must also meet guidelines for calories, while restricting fats and sodium.

The role of school nutrition professionals is more important this year than ever before as more families rely on federal child nutrition programs. SMCPS thanks all school nutrition professionals for their outstanding work in providing healthy, nutritious meals to children every school day.