| Archive of
Past Articles |
Riddle Recognized as Employee of the
Month
 Mareva
Riddle, food service manager at Britain Elementary School, was
recognized as Employee of the Month for December 2007. Riddle joined
IISD in 2000 as a food service substitute and was promoted to part-time
assistant in 2001. After the completion of the food service manager
training program, she ... |
5-30-08 |
Food Service
News Briefs
(May & June 2007) Click
here to read a compilation of news briefs from May and June of
2007 about the Irving ISD Food Service Departments .... |
5-30-08 |
Food Services Director Puts Students' Health First on Menu
(Article
by Deborah Fleck) On Tuesday, the
summer school students feasted on turkey meat tacos, homemade
corn tortillas, brown rice and fresh – not canned – charro
beans. Dessert was an apple or an orange. Little junk food is
served at this elementary school ... |
5-30-08 |
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3-11-08 |
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Click here for Video |
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T.J. Lee Silver Award
Ceremony
T.J. Lee Elementary School students and staff
celebrate as they are presented with the Silver School Team Nutrition
Award ... |
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3-11-08 |
IISD Breakfast Participation Soars Past
State Average
 According
to the February 2007, Texas Education News publication,
participation in school breakfast programs across the state grew 2.3%
between the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years. Irving ISD posted a
7% increase in students choosing to eat a school breakfast – more
than three times the state average – in the same time period... |
2-28-08 |
Beyond the Stereotypes: Facts About School Lunches
The reality of school nutrition programs is too often ignored in favor
of a ratings boost based on stereotypes and biased information. School
lunches today follow federal nutrition guidelines and serve more fresh
fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low fat dairy than ever before.
On a very tight budget, school nutrition professionals are preparing and
serving balanced, nutritious meals in an age appropriate portion size
that provide needed nutrients and promote a healthy childhood weight... |
2-11-08 |
Peanut-free Cafeteria Menus Announced
 The
IISD Food Service Department recently announced that, effective December
1, 2006, all early childhood and elementary cafeterias will cease
serving foods that contain peanuts/peanut butter. These school
cafeterias currently serve three foods that contain peanuts and/or
peanut butter... |
8-28-07 |
Breakfast Participation
Soars at BIC Schools
A recent evaluation and analysis of breakfast participation rates at
three IISD schools that began the “Breakfast in the Classroom” (BIC)
program this school year shows that breakfast participation rates by
students have soared. J. Haley, Lively, and Townsell elementary schools
all have realized huge gains in breakfast participation rates by their
students. November 2006 data shows that ... |
8-28-07 |
T.J. Lee Elementary School
named Texas School Health Hero
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently named T.J. Lee
elementary school a “Texas School Health Hero.” T.J. Lee is the first
elementary school in the state of Texas to be recognized by the TDA in
this manner. What did T.J. Lee elementary school, in partnership with
the Food Service Department, do to earn such recognition?... |
6-21-07 |
State
Announces New Public School Nutrition Policy
 No
more carbonated beverages in high schools by 2009-2010? The end of
“fried” French fries in schools in a few more years? The Texas
Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) revised Texas Public Schools Nutrition
Policy calls for all of these changes, and more, by 2009-2010. Given
the epidemic of childhood obesity rates, particularly in Texas, the
nutrition policy is aimed squarely at reducing, or eliminating
altogether, “junk food” and foods with little nutritional value in
public schools. For many years, Irving ISD has been actively
improving... |
6-21-07 |
IISD & Lee Elementary
First “Texans” To Receive National Nutrition Award
 On
September 20th, 2006, the Texas Department of Agriculture
announced that the IISD Food Service Department and T. J. Lee Elementary
School have become the first food service department and school in
the entire state of Texas to earn the prestigious United States
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Team Nutrition “Silver School”
award!... |
6-21-07 |
Grants to Help Fund
Breakfast Expansion
 The
Irving ISD Food Service Department received three
$1,000.00 grants which will help to fund “Breakfast in the
Classroom” programs at Townsell, John Haley, and Lively
elementary schools in 2006-2007. The grants, awarded by DairyMax, are aimed at covering the significant start-up costs
of this program, such as expenses for delivery carts, insulated
food and beverage containers... |
6-21-07 |
Meals Prices for 2006-2007
Student meal prices will remain unchanged for 2006-2007, the
IISD Food Service Department announced today. As the table
below illustrates, the IISD offers some of the lowest meal
prices in the greater D/FW area. This means that students, and
their families, will have extremely nutritious and healthy meals
available at bargain prices... |
6-21-07 |
Irving ISD Food
Service Department in Restaurants & Institutions Magazine
 The
IISD Food Service Department’s “Breakfast in the Classroom”
program was featured in the June 1, 2006 edition of
Restaurants & Institutions Magazine. The article, titled
“Schools find creative solutions to multiply meal
participation,” details... |
6-21-07 |
The Irving ISD Food Service Department is Moving
 As
of January 2nd, 2007, the new address of the Irving ISD Food Service
Department will be 800 O'Connor Road, Irving, TX 75061. In
order to better and more effectively serve the parents and students of
the district, the Food Service Department, which was located in two different buildings, will
be reunited under one roof. |
6-20-07 |
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Renovated Building to Host IISD
Food Service Department
Many district residents have noticed a flurry of construction activity
going on at 800 O’Connor. What is this all about? The IISD Food
Service Department is moving! In order to better and more effectively
serve the parents and students of the district, the Food Service
Department, which is currently located in two different buildings, will
be reunited under one roof, at 800 O’Connor. The move is anticipated to
occur in mid/late December, 2006.
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6-20-07 |
Half-Price Breakfasts
In celebration of National School Breakfast Week, March 5-9, the Irving
ISD Food Service Department is having it’s first-ever “half-price”
breakfast sale. All student and adult breakfast prices at the schools
will be discounted by half for the week of March 5-9, 2007... |
3-15-07 |
Foodservice's Parent’s/Teacher’s Night
(Brandenburg and Lee parents and students) Attend Foodservice's
parent’s/teacher’s night at your school and learn
about health and eating well. If you are one
of the parents or students who attended Brandenburg
Elementary School’s “Meet & Greet Night” event on Tuesday,
August 22nd, or Lee Elementary School’s “Meet the
Teacher Night” on Tuesday, August 29th, you got
to do just that! In addition to ... |
2-13-07 |
Students Learn about
Portion Sizes
(by
Jamie Stengle) With a tennis ball and
a yo-yo as props, first-grade teacher Kristy Brooks helped her class
understand the correct portion sizes for vegetables. "About
how many yo-yos do you think would fit on this potato?" she asked during
the nutrition lesson, prompting students to measure the potatoes against
the yo-yos.
(read article) |
2-12-07 |
The “Big Six” Nutrients
There are six major nutrients that you need to
consume for optimal nutrition. Click the link above for more
information. Remember that your school cafeteria is a great place
to eat healthy meals and to consume all six major nutrients ... |
2-12-07 |
New Dish Machines Cut
Water Usage by 50%!
Seven new dish washing machines recently purchased by the IISD
Food Service Department feature numerous environmentally friendly
features. First, thanks to an advanced nozzle design, rinse water
consumption is reduced by more than 50%, compared to traditional models.
Second, the advanced design saves energy from... |
1-5-07 |
FDA to Require Food
Manufacturers to List Food Allergens
(Consumers with Allergies Will Benefit From Improved Food
Labels)
Effective January 1, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) is requiring food labels to clearly state if food products contain
any ingredients that contain protein derived from the eight major
allergenic foods. As a result
... |
1-5-07 |
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Free and Reduced Price
Meals
The Food Service Department has a separate office to give
parents the opportunity to come by in person and fill out an
application for Free or Reduced-Price meals for their children
attending Irving ISD schools. The School Meal Application
Center is located at 800 O’Connor Road.
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1-5-07 |
 Did
you know…..
That your school cafeteria is one of the few places
where you can find food in the correct portion sizes according to
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans? That your school cafeteria’s
menus have been
analyzed for nutritional content through the USDA’s School Meals
Initiative (SMI)?... |
1-5-07 |
IISD Joins Dallas
Coalition to Prevent Childhood Obesity
 The
Irving ISD Food Service Department recently became a founding member of
the Dallas Area Coalition to Prevent Childhood Obesity. At a
symposium held on January 31, 2005, at Children’s Medical Center in
Dallas, a gathering of medical experts, community leaders, public
officials (including representatives from several area school
districts), and other concerned parties gathered to begin a
comprehensive strategy aimed at preventing childhood obesity... |
12-12-06 |
|
 Public
School Nutrition Policy At-A-Glance
Schools are in a powerful position to influence children’s lifelong
eating habits. To support this role and help combat the childhood
obesity crisis, the Texas Department of Agriculture created new
nutrition guidelines for public schools participating in the federally
funded Child Nutrition Programs. These quick reference guides outlines
the policies for Texas schools, effective Aug. 1, 2004.
Also see (pdf file)
Recommendations for Healthy
Snacks at School or Home
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12-12-06 |
List of Food Items
Containing Pork
 (Updated October 13,
2006) Irving ISD Food Service Department releases list of menu
items containing pork. The following items have been identified by the
IISD Food Service Department as containing pork. Students and
adults who for whatever reason do not consume pork should refrain from
eating these products... |
11-29-06 |
Food Services for June 1
(LAST DAY OF SCHOOL)
1) Secondary
Schools
– breakfast service only, Manager’s Choice
2) Elementary
Schools
– breakfast service: Manager’s Choice
– lunch service: Sack Lunch
3) Early
Childhood Schools
– breakfast service: Manager’s Choice
– lunch service: Manager’s Choice
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6-12-06 |
“Got Breakfast” Child Essay
Contest
 Senators
George McGovern and Bob Dole recently announced a “got breakfast” essay
contest. Students (between the ages of 6 and 18) across the
country are asked to submit a short essay on why breakfast is the most
important meal of the day and why getting breakfast at school is
important.
(more) |
6-1-06 |
USDA Web Site Teaches Children about
Nutrition
 The
Unites States Department of Agriculture’s web site, www.MyPyramid.gov,
now features instructions and fun about nutrition education aimed at
young children. In this modern era of TV and video games for
children, what better way to teach young children about health lessons
than a video game? If you check out the kids section... |
6-1-06 |
Steps to a
Healthier You
 One
size doesn't fit all. The MyPyramid Plan offered by the
United States Department of Agriculture can help you choose the foods
and amounts that are right for you. For a quick estimate of what and how
much you need to eat, enter your age, sex, and activity level in the
MyPyramid Plan box... |
6-1-06 |
Product of the Month:
Low-Fat American Cheese
 March
is National Nutrition Month. As such, it is appropriate
that we start making positive changes to our lifestyle in an
effort to improve our health. Changes can be subtle, yet
still make an impact. Changes can be as simple as ...
reduced-fat cheese instead of whole milk cheese. |
4-15-06 |
Nutrition Week at Lee
Britain Elementary
 (April
10-14, 2006) Lee Britain Elementary School and the Food Service
Department have partnered to create our first-ever “First Grade
Nutrition Week” to be held April 10-14, 2006. Each day of this
week, a different food group will be discussed and presented. A
nutrition expert from the Food Service Department will conduct two group
sessions each day, one in English and one in Spanish, about ... |
4-14-06 |
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What are the Frequently-Asked-Questions to Food Services?
1. Is there a link between good eating habits and student
performance in school?
2. How do I find out if my
child/children qualifies for free/reduced-price meals?
3.
Is my child getting
the nutrients he/she needs from school meals?
4. How do I purchase meals for
my child?
5. How can I check the balance
of my child’s account?
6. What happens to the money
in my child’s account at the end of the school year, or if my
child transfers to another IISD school?
7. Does my child have to
purchase an entire meal?
8. Don’t kids sometimes throw away a lot of food?
AND more .... |
3-1-06 |
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What are Foods of Minimal
Nutritional Value (FMNV)?
Use the following links to find out more:
●
Foods of Minimal
Nutritional Value (FMNV) - Food and Nutrition Service
●
Food and Nutrition Division −
Texas Department of Agriculture
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3-1-06 |
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Online Publications
●
Food for Thought Brochure
A timely report from the Texas Department of Agriculture on the
childhood obesity crisis in Texas
●
Non-Food Ways to Reward
A
quick and easy list from the Texas Department of Agriculture to inspire
schools and parents on ways to reward children without using food/snacks |
3-1-06 |
Food Service
Department “Perfect” on State Audit
 No
“findings” during 4-day review of program: A four-day
comprehensive on-site evaluation by the state of Texas of the
IISD’s Food Service Department concluded on April 14, 2005 with
a result of “no findings.” The on-site evaluation,
developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),
is conducted at least once every five years in school districts
that participate in the National School Lunch Program (among
other meal programs). The purpose of the evaluation, known
as the Coordinated Review Effort (CRE), is... |
2-21-06 |
Middle Schools to End Frying by
February 2005
As we enter into the New Year, many people work on
making resolutions for themselves. Oftentimes, these resolutions
have to do with physical fitness: exercise more, lose weight, eat better
meals and snack less, be healthier in general, etc. The Irving ISD
Food Service Department enters 2005 with a resolution of its own: "cut
the fat!" ...
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2-21-06 |
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New School
Nutrition Policy Released
Over
the summer, the Texas Department of Agriculture released a revised
(6/1/04) version of its Texas Public School Nutrition Policy. This
policy regulates all foods and beverages available to Texas public
school children during the school day, and aims to promote a healthier
school environment.
Click here to
learn more about the policy.
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2-21-06 |
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