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News Source: Fox News

News Source: Catholic Philly

New Source: Catholic Philly

News Source: The Leader

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is back for the 2017-18 school year! This program is made possible by a federally-funded grant administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. […]

Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Fire Department  stopped by Saint Barnabas’ Out-of-School Time (OST) program to talk children about fire safety. Children had the opportunity to tour the truck and presented their “heroes” with handmaid cards to thank them for their service. In addition, fire fighters sat at the lunch table while children enjoyed their favorite lunch: popcorn chicken with carrots, an apple, 100% fruit punch, milk, and garlic hummus. NDS and children from St. Barnabas’ OST program would like to thank Engine 40 for making lunch extra special!

Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia held its 11th Annual Blessing of the Summer to kick off the Summer Meals Program.

Nutritional Development Services received a generous donation for its Summer Meals Program from students at Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School.

On Thursday, March 30, 2017, NDS held a Staff Appreciation Lunch to show gratitude and appreciation for all those who help make the school meals program a success. This year, staff members from partnering schools were invited to get in line with students and enjoy a popular, nutritious, and delicious meal:  popcorn chicken served with fresh romaine salad, baby carrots, fresh pineapple, Keebler Elf grahams, and a carton of milk. Each year, many staff members say they look forward to this event including Ms. Vicky from Saint Veronica School in Philadelphia who said, “I’m very happy for the opportunity to have an NDS meal and experience what the children do every day.” In addition to a fun day for staff members, students enjoyed seeing their role models making healthy food choices. When teachers from St. Frances Cabrini Regional Catholic School in Philadelphia got in line with their students, the kindergarten class roared with laughter. Since 2014, NDS’ annual Staff Appreciation Lunch has served over 2,300 lunches to thank staff at our partner schools. NDS looks forward to continuing this tradition each year.

In honor of National Nutrition Month, Jean Falk, Registered Dietitian for Nutritional Development Services (NDS), hosted a taste test at Tech Freire Charter High School. Tech Freire is a new high school that joined the NDS school breakfast and lunch program this school year. Their students’ feedback is especially valuable in developing an appealing, age-appropriate high school lunch menu. A dedicated group of freshman and sophomore taste testers put their “Best Forks Forward” to try two potential new meals: Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and chicken drums with potato rounds. The students particularly enjoyed the home-style appeal of the chicken drums. In the end, both meals received the taste testers’ stamp of approval! NDS partners with 98 parochial, charter, and small Christian schools to serve an average of 17,000 lunches each day across the southeastern region of Pennsylvania. Taste Tests are offered regularly throughout the school year to engage students in the menu-planning process and to offer a variety of student-selected food choices to increase meal satisfaction.  School lunch provides a student with 1/3 of their daily requirement for calories and key growth nutrients. National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This year’s theme, “Put Your Best Fork Forward,” reminds students eating healthy improves health now and in the future. To learn more about National Nutrition Month, please visit http://www.eatright.org/resources/national-nutrition-month.