Stay upLIFTed Newsletter | SY 2021-2022 | Issue 7 | April 2022

Inside This Issue...

Join us for our upcoming Stay upLIFTed Webinar!

Stories from the Field: STAR School
April 19, 2022 at 1:30 pm
This month we will be hearing from April Willing, the Wellness Coordinator at STAR School located in Flagstaff, Arizona. STAR School aims to source local, fresh items that support their scratch menu and reflect the cultural and traditional preferences of their students. Their focus on these ingredients has helped STAR School overcome numerous challenges throughout the pandemic and beyond! Join us to hear about their experience using micro-purchases for local items, how transitioning to a scratch menu with local seasonal items has benefited them, and how you can incorporate similar practices in your own meal service programs! 
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What was your first job in child nutrition/food service?
My first job was at Burger King, and I waited tables all through high school and college. 

What prompted you to start working to support child nutrition?
I love food, everything about preparing and cooking food. After my own health journey, I wanted to find a way to teach others about health and wellness. Combining cooking and teaching is the best of both worlds, although I transitioned out of the kitchen this year and into the role of Wellness Coordinator full time. 

Tell us about a specific project or initiative you have championed that you are proud of. 
I am so proud of the family gardening initiative we started 3 years ago, and expanding every year. We help set up home gardens and hoop houses for families of some of our students. 

Assuming time and money were not barriers, what would be your top priority as far as changes you would like to see related to Child Nutrition Program operations at your organization?
I would LOVE to see us go 100% organic, local, and grown on site! We do better than most, but we could do so much more. 

What are the top three skills a child nutrition program operator should have?
Ability to quickly substitute ingredients if needed, ability to multitask (cook, serve, clean up, and finish your paperwork all in one day), and have a passion for experimenting with different recipes and foods  

What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself just starting in the role of a child nutrition program operator?
Don't be afraid of rules and regulations. Everyone is here to accomplish the same goal: feeding kids healthy food. Once you realize that everyone is here to help, it makes the requirements less daunting. 
STAR School serves a homemade meal with garden-fresh ingredients!

STAR School in Flagstaff, AZ always aims to cook items from scratch as much as possible. Today's lunch was pasta with beef and marinara sauce made using tomatoes from their garden and fresh herbs. The pasta was served with garlic bread, grapes, salad, and milk. Looks fresh and delicious! 

Want to see more inspirational photos of nutritious meals? Visit ADE's "Find Your Inspiration: upLIFT Photostream"! 

Research Rundown

This month's Research Rundown evaluated the effectiveness of a summer mobile feeding program and its ability to reach a new population of children who would otherwise not attend a summer feeding site. Mobile feeding sites are recommended to all operators who wish to reach and feed more children this summer. The information in this research rundown can be useful for determining whether a mobile feeding site can be beneficial to your program and community! 
Together, we can influence positive 
dietary behaviors in students!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Health and Nutrition Services

1535 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007

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