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Bales wins outstanding child nutrition director of the year
May 2007 - Tammy Bales, Mustang Public School’s child nutrition director, was named Outstanding Director of the Year for both Oklahoma and the Southwest Region by the School Nutrition Association.
Bales said the award should include the names of people on her staff as well.
“The credit for this award has also got to go to our Child Nutrition staff,†she said. “The managers encourage their employees to become certified. Having a group like this assembled that takes pride in their work and really cares about the kids is what makes us stand out.†
Bales has been with the Child Nutrition Department for 15 years. Her first job was at Mustang Elementary as a hostess, working in the lunch room with the students. A few months later, she was hired as the accounts payable clerk for the Child Nutrition Department. She’s been leading the department for seven years.
Bonnie Lightfoot, deputy superintendent, said Bales has been instrumental in making Mustang Public Schools’ Child Nutrition Department exemplary.
“She has received excellent ratings at the state level for cleanliness and quality product nutrition,†Lightfoot said. “She has also helped develop our Mustang Health and Wellness Policy, which will improve the health of children across the district.â€
Since Bales has been the director, they’ve added six breakfast programs around the district. A seventh breakfast program will open in August at Mustang Centennial Elementary. Four years ago, Bales began to analyze the nutritional value of the meals. In the most recent six and four-week cycles, the nutritional values matched the state’s guidelines exactly.
“We have a nutrient standard we’re required to reach,†Bales said. “Until you analyze the menus, you don’t really know where your nutrient values fall. We analyzed K-3, 4-5, the middle schools and then the Mid-High and High School.â€
Not only does Bales try to perfectly match the state’s guidelines, she also has to plan meals the students will eat.
“I feel like we did a good job coming up with good menus that the kids will eat that will still meet all of our requirements,†Bales said. “To add in their favorites and create menus that meet the guidelines is what is so difficult.â€
Bales and her staff are also slipping in whole grains in inconspicuous places, like breading for chicken nuggets. All bakery goods are made with very little shortening or replaced with applesauce to cut the fat and nothing is fried. Deep fat fryers were removed from the kitchens a few years ago and foods like french fries and chicken nuggets are baked. Turkey products, such as turkey corndogs, have replaced their higher fat predecessors. Low fat desserts such as puddings made with nonfat milk, light cakes and cookies add to the meal appeal.
Mustang Public Schools also boasts some of the cleanest kitchens in town. Foodservice staff in Mustang’s kitchens prepare more than 5000 servings of the menu’s main dish daily, and inspectors from the Oklahoma State Department of Health have given the kitchens superior reviews for years.
Mustang’s kitchens also boast the largest number of certified child nutrition employees. More than 50 are certified through the School Nutrition Association. To earn their certification, these employees completed 30 hours of training in sanitation, food safety and “healthy edge,†a course on healthy cooking and promoting healthy eating.
The Outstanding Director of the Year Award recognizes the exceptional contributions of school foodservice and nutrition directors who manage effective programs that provide healthful, appetizing and nutritious meals to students. School foodservice directors are responsible for all aspects of foodservice operations, including budgeting, staffing, training, marketing, as well as championing the benefits of these programs to students, the education community, and the public. The criteria for selecting the Outstanding Director of the Year include success in program enhancement, staff development, school involvement, Association involvement/promotion, and community involvement.
SNA (www.schoolnutrition.org) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals. Founded in 1946, SNA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children’s health and well being through school meals and sound nutrition education. |
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