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“The Rock Star Lunchlady” JoAnne Robinett joins us to discuss what she considers are the Top Three Issues in School Food Service today. In this first episode in a three-part series, we discuss Customer Service. Join us next time when we discuss Food Safety and Accountability. About JoAnne: With over 30 years of experience in child nutrition and is currently the owner of America’s Meal, a school meal consulting and training firm. She has been quoted in USA Today, Parenting Magazine and The Boston Globe. You may have even attended one of JoAnne’s sessions at an SNA event, as she is a frequent speaker at state and national SNA events. For more information, visit her website: http://americasmeal.com/ K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

Marketing and Nutrition Education. It’s something you hear about pretty often and the message is pretty much always the same: It’s something you should be doing and often. Create social media accounts and newsletters to promote your program. But once you create a Facebook page or a Twitter page or a newsletter, what are you going to talk about? What content are you going to create to market your program? That’s what today’s guest is going to share with us! Jama Stallings, SNS is the School Nutrition Director for Franklin County Schools in Louisburg, NC. Her marketing and nutrition content is effective because its creative, mostly in part of how she maximizes the relationships she has with her internal and external partners. K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

This episode is an amazing illustration of how child nutrition professionals can impact their district’s students outside of the lunchroom. Stefanie Giannini is the Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition Services at Marquardt School District 15 (IL) and she is going to tell us about her district’s Young Chefs Club. This is an extremely fun and educational club that gets middle school students in the kitchen, learning everything from knife skills to preparing a menu and coordinating a formal taste testing for parents and teachers and here’s the best part – THE KIDS LOVE IT! In fact, this past semester, the club filled up in 15 minutes and alternate options are having to be created for students that were already in the club and want to join again! Stefanie has some really amazing stuff to share, including the benefits of the program for their students and her own advice on starting your own Young Chefs Club. K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

NOW is the best time to be looking at USDA Foods! In this episode, we have a USDA Foods update from Malissa Marsden, a School Nutrition Specialist and consultant to two Agricultural Boards, the American Egg Board and the Mushroom Council. She has been in child nutrition for over 20 years and because, as she puts it “She speaks Child Nutrition and USDA,” she’s the perfect person to give us a USDA update. She’ll share why now is the best time to look at USDA Foods, tell us about some new products coming soon, and how USDA supports food trends in your cafeterias. K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

Would you like help preparing for a media interview? What should you be sure to mention in an interview? Does even the thought of doing a media interview cause unwanted stress? Then this episode is for you! Diane Pratt-Heavner, the Director of Media Relations at the School Nutrition Association, is sharing advice on preparing for an interview, why you should never shy away from an opportunity to talk to the media, and how you can use the media to shed a positive light on your child nutrition department. School Nutrition Association members can find more public relations resources here: www.schoolnutrition.org/pr K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

Grant writing doesn't have to be intimidating! Joe Salisbury of The Capitol Encore Academy in Fayetteville, NC shares his tips and experience on grant writing. K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

December is World Food Safety Month, and Marianne Gravely, MS, the Senior Technical Information Specialist at the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, joins us to discuss food safety. She gives us tips we can use in the cafeteria, as well as at home. For more resources on food safety, visit the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Website: http://www.fns.usda.gov/food-safety/ K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

It's the Holiday Season, and Santa Claus is comin' 'round... even in training sessions! Sherry Williams, SNS shares how she will incorporate the "Santa Attitude" into her leadership and customer service training sessions at Alexander County Schools (NC). K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

Linda Brimanson has over 30 years of experience in child nutrition and has launched and managed Student Nutrition Advisory Councils at every level of K12 schools. She joins us to share her tips on managing successful SNAC programs. For some of Linda's favorite SNAC resources, visit the SNA of North Carolina website: http://schoolnutrition-nc.org/student-nutrition-advisory-council/ K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

School gardens don't have to be intimidating! 'School Garden Guru" Bill Whitcomb, Jr. of Whitsons Culinary Group shares the benefits of a school garden and tips to start a garden at your school district. You won’t want to miss this energizing episode – it will make you want to run out and plant a garden tomorrow! If you’d like more information on school gardens, contact Bill at gardens@whitsons.com, follow him on Twitter twitter.com/WCG_GardenGuru, or complete a school garden information form on Whitsons Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WhitsonsCulinaryGroup. Are you enjoying K12Foodies every #K12FoodiesFriday? Share this episode with the other K12Foodies in your life! K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

Sally Spero, SNS of Lakeside USD in Lakeside, CA joins us for Part 2 of her "Back to Basics: Scratch Cooking" series. In this episode, she tells us what calculations we need to do to know if scratch cooking is beneficial for our district. If you missed Part 1, you can listen to it here: https://soundcloud.com/k12foodies/scratch-cooking-in-k12-school-cafeterias Click here to download the Labor Cost Calculation spreadsheet that Sally created for us: http://www.mealsplus.com/Emails/LaborCostCalculation.xlsx K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

Chef Mario Perez brings nutrition, music and fun to the students of Comal ISD (TX), Hear how he encourages students to try new foods and increases breakfast participation with his traveling omelet bars. K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

When Liz Perry-Wyss of Butter Buds found that Cincinnati Public Schools was using her product on the salad bar, she was intrigued. It turned out, the district found a completely new way to use her product and got students excited about their cafeteria salad bar! Hear all about it in this episode of K12Foodies. K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

Sally Spero, SNS is channeling her inner Barefoot Contessa and taking K12Foodies "Back to Basics" with the topic of scratch cooking. Listen to Sally explain what the advantages of scratch cooking are, what types of food are best, and what factors directors need to consider when determining if scratch cooking is a good fit for them. Click here to listen to Part 2 of Scratch Cooking with Sally Spero, SNS: https://soundcloud.com/k12foodies/episode-6-scratch-cooking-part-2-of-2-with-sally-spero-sns K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

Child Nutrition Operations Consultant Cynthia Sevier, SNS brings ANC San Antonio to K12Foodies, and shares what she learned at a General Session. To try your own self-assessment, check out the Cornell Center for Behavior Economics in Child Nutrition's site: ben.cornell.edu/ For more information on Cynthia's consulting services, contact her today at cynthia@mealsplus.com K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com

Child Nutrition Director of York-Suburban School District Helen Heidler, SNS joins us to talk about lunchroom promotions. Hear how she generates promotional ideas for her lunchrooms, and the extra special event she has in store for election year! K12Foodies is presented by Meals Plus, Superior Cafeteria Technology. Meals Plus is a complete front to back, Windows-based, web-enabled cafeteria technology system backed by the very best training and customer support in the business. Voted among District Administration's Top 100 Products of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and HDI CSAT Elite 50 of 2015 and 2016 for top customer service. Click here for more information: www.mealsplus.com