Alaska Schools Get New Salad Bars

Congratulations to the 14 Alaska schools and RCCI's that received mini-grants for new salad bars! The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Obesity Prevention and Control Program and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Child Nutrition Programs sponsored the salad bar mini-grant program. The following schools will be receiving brand new salad bars for the 2013-14 school year:

• Covenant House, Anchorage
• Craig Elementary School
• Delta Elementary School
• Fort Greely Middle/High School
• Mitkoff Middle School, Petersburg
• Naknek Elementary School
• O’Malley Elementary School, Anchorage
• Rae C. Stedman Elementary School, Petersburg
• Residential Youth Care, Inc., Ketchikan
• Sidney C. Huntington School, Galena City
• Tongass School of Arts & Sciences, Ketchikan
• Trailside Elementary School, Anchorage
• Wrangell Elementary School and Middle/High School 

2013 Alaska School Salad Bar Mini-Grants

Application Deadline: March 12, 2013. Applicants Notified by: March 15, 2013

The Alaska EED Child Nutrition Programs and the DHSS Obesity Prevention and Control Program will provide 15 schools with new salad bars to encourage and support healthy eating in Alaska students. Grant awards will be based on need, potential for impact, commitment to and implementation of the program.

Please contact Diane Peck for instructions, evaluation criteria and the application. Application can be submitted by email to diane.peck@alaska.gov, fax (907-269-5446), mail or in person to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Obesity Prevention and Control Program, 3601 C Street, Ste. 722, Anchorage, AK 99503. Applications must be received by close of business (5:00 pm) Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

New Salad Bars in Alaska Schools Video

A new video shows that salad bars can be successful in Alaska elementary, middle, and high schools.  Staff in schools that already offer salad bars explain how they do it, and students talk about why they like the fruit and vegetable options served in the salad bars. The video also highlights the Alaska Farm to School Program and shows how to get more Alaska Grown produce into school salad bars. View the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DENYVcc0WjE.

New Salad Bar Safety Fact Sheet from AK DEC

Check out the great fact sheet, “Safe Use of Salad Bars in Schools”, adapted by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Food Safety and Sanitation Program. The fact sheet, originally developed by the Minnesota Dept of Health, has information on the Alaska statutes and food codes that schools should know when implementing a salad bar.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Food Safety and Sanitation Program has also developed a very helpful website for School Food Service at http://www.dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/Food/School_Food_Service.html. The site lists resources for creating HACCP Plans, Standard Operating Procedures, and links to other agencies relevant to Food Service in schools.

Alaska School Salad Bar Training!

Want to learn more about how to implement asuccessful salad bars in your school lunch program? We will be holding salad bar training sessions at the Alaska Child Nutrition Programs' National School Lunch Program Annual Training Conferences in:

• Juneau - August 8th
• Anchorage - August 8th
• Fairbanks - August 14th

Topics will include the new NSLP rules & regulations, salad bar safety & sanitation, filling your salad bar, farm to school, marketing, and how to get a salad bar in your school.

This is an optional training day for the NSLP Annual Training Conference. The optional training will also include training on the Healthier US Schools Challenge. To register, visit http://eed.alaska.gov/tls/cnp/NSLP1.html.

Congratulations to Glacier Valley Elementary School!

Glacier Valley won the Alaska Salad Bars 2 Schools video contest with 49% of the vote. They will receive $500 to be used in their school food service as they see fit. Kiana and Delta High will receive $100 for their submissions. Thanks to all for your excellent videos!

Vote for Your Favorite School Salad Bar Video!

View the following videos on YouTube and then vote for your favorite on the right-hand side of this website.

Kiana School: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo4LFRpRis4

Glacier Valley Elementary School: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9O1-K8a_WQ&feature=share

Delta High School: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIGjS_0tbtU

The winner will receive $500 to be used as they wish in their school food service! A winner will be announced on April 19, 2012.