SNA's Vegas Days

Photography: EZ Event Photography

More than 760 exhibits from 315 vendors filled the exibition hall

The Annual Training Conference of the School Nutrition Association (SNA) met in Las Vegas in July, faced with challenges like rising food and labor costs, increased demand for school meals and the need to address the growing childhood obesity epidemic. Also high on the agenda was the legislative push for national nutrition standards through the Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

The SNA membership also voted on new leadership, choosing Dora Rivas, MS, RD, LD, SNS, as its new president for 2009-10. Rivas, executive director of food & child nutrition services for the Dallas ISD, succeeds Katie Wilson, PhD, SNS, director of school nutrition for the Onalaska (WI) School District.

A highlight of the event was an address by Dr. Janey Thornton, PhD, SNS, USDA deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services — and a former school nutrition director for the Hardin County (KY) School District) — who oversees the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs as part of her responsibilities.

Thornton emphasized the need to challenge children to take personal responsibility for their actions in terms of healthful eating but also noted that it is adults — both school staff and parents — who need to serve as role models. She also stressed the importance for school nutrition programs: “The school meal program is instrumental in teaching kids how to eat…As we all know, lifelong nutrition and physical activity habits are formed in childhood. Helping children develop thse values through school meals programs is an investment in our future.”

There were also three SNA members honored for their services with the Association's annual awards. Adrienne Gooley, cafeteria manager at Valley View Elementary School in Columbia Hts., MN, received the National Louise Sublette Award of Excellence. The 2009 National Outstanding Director of the Year Award went to Wanda Grant, school nutrition director for Palm Springs (CA) USD while Debbie Pridemore of Rosedale Elementary School in Fayette Cty., WV, won the Heart of the Program Award.

The conference provided attendees with more than 80 education sessions on school nutrition standards, “going green,” food allergies, food recall procedures, school food equipment, nutrition education, local school wellness policies and managing costs. The exhibition hall boasted more than 760 exhibits covering some 200,000 sq.ft. of space and representing more than 315 vendors of food, beverages, equipment and hardware/software.

There were also half a dozen culinary demonstrations featuring recipes incorporating healthier ingredients. Demoed dishes included whole grain biscuits, quesadillas, rice bowls, and an “egg-stravaganza.”