Announcing Episode 4 of the “Healthy School Meals for All”, a podcast by the New York School Nutrition Association. This episode is hosted by Naim Walcott, West Hampton Beach School Nutrition Director and President of the NYSNA and features insightful discussions with Mary Ann Dayton from the Infinity Group and Joe Kilmer from Greater Southern Tier BOCES.
The conversation focuses on the impact of universal meals and Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) programs in school nutrition. Mary Ann Dayton, representing the industry side, explains the challenges faced by manufacturers in producing products due to fluctuating student numbers. Joe Kilmer discusses how CEP increased his participation by about 20%, allowing for better resources and improved meal options in schools.

Discussions include the evolution of food items like chicken patties to meet guidelines, the challenges in making healthy food appealing to students, and also explores the financial aspects of school nutrition programs. our guests stress the importance of feeding children and the broader economic impact, touching upon the current challenges such as the milk carton shortage and the need for shelf-stable alternatives.