Education and Training Resources for School Nutrition Programs

ICN’s research-based education and training resources are designed to help district school nutrition directors/supervisors, managers, and nutrition assistants/technicians meet the challenges of the day to day operations of successful school nutrition programs.

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ICN Resources Index

Popular Resources for School Nutrition Programs

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This colorful 17″ X 22″ poster offers “at a glance” information on recipe abbreviations, measurement conversions, portioning tools, and steamtable pan capacity.
Post it in the kitchen for quick reference. Also available from ICN. Call 800-321-3054 for more information.

Face-to-face training resource that provides participants the opportunity to review and practice basic culinary math skills. Published 2016. Revised 2017.

Emergencies happen when they are least expected. Having an emergency preparedness plan in place can help save lives and provide employees with a sense of security when an emergency takes place. ICN has developed templates, fact sheets, and an online course to help you prepare for emergencies that may come your way.

Reopening Your School Kitchen After a Flood

File size: 2.59 MB
Created: April 10, 2018
Updated: September 14, 2018
Hits: 5257
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Salvaging Food After a Flood

File size: 2.59 MB
Created: April 10, 2018
Updated: September 14, 2018
Hits: 4423
Download

Designing an Emergency Preparedness Plan Online Course

Food Safety Basics is a 4-hour training for new school nutrition managers and employees to provide a basic understanding of food safety. This training enables them to begin the job using safe food handling practices including good personal hygiene practices, important food temperatures, methods of preventing food contamination, and steps for developing a food safety program. Published 2017.

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Colorful 8 ½” x 11″ mini-posters provide information at a glance on current food safety topics. Designed for use in the food preparation and service areas.

Food Safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are written practices and procedures that are critical to producing safe food. It is essential to have these SOPs in place and to train foodservice employees to use them. Published 2005. Updated 2016. ET63-05.

The Inventory Management and Tracking Reference Guide presents information about inventory management and tracking that may be new to school nutrition operators and updates information about traditional inventory management in light of new traceability expectations. Published 2012.

Please click here to view Manager’s Corner (Formerly No Time to Train)

The Breakfast Lunch Training (BLT) Module, Nutrition 101: A Taste of Food and Fitness, 4th Edition provides a basic overview of nutrition. The module incorporates a variety of learning activities to engage participants on a personal level. The learning objectives for each lesson are achieved through completion of all lesson components. Nutrition 101 consists of an Instructor’s Manual, a Participant’s Workbook, and PowerPoint presentations. Published 2018.

These training materials are used in the five-day Orientation to School Nutrition Management training seminar targeted to new and aspiring school nutrition program directors with five years or less experience.  Lessons provide an overview of school nutrition programs, define the role and responsibilities of a director, and review the relationship between local policies and state/federal regulations.

Management topics include:

  • Meal Pattern/HealthierUS School Challenge
  • Food Production and Operation Management
  • Program Accountability and the Role of the School Nutrition Director
  • Procurement and Inventory Management
  • Special Needs
  • Work Place Safety and Emergency Preparedness
  • Human Resource Management
  • Marketing and Communication
  • Financial Management

Recipes for Healthy Kids – The 30 winning recipes from the Recipes for Healthy Kids (R4HK) competition are credited to support the whole grain-rich, red/orange, dark green, and beans/peas (legumes) vegetable subgroups for the meal patterns as part of the Nutrition Standards in School Meal Programs. Find these recipes in the Team Nutrition Resource Library:

View R4HK for Schools

The School Nutrition Videos are a series of quick, practical training designed for school meal managers and front-line kitchen staff. These videos reinforce best practices and effective strategies that support daily operations, positive teamwork and environment, effective communication, conflict resolution, staff retention, and efficient service in school meal programs.

Available here: Best Practices for Operations and Teamwork

Get Recipes at the Child Nutrition Recipe Box