Conference

Annual professional development offered to Iowa school nutrition leaders from the Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

July 29 and July 30, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa
Audience: School Nutrition Directors, Managers, and key staff with menu planning responsibilities

July 29: Planning School Meals with Nutrition in Mind
Description: A focus on school nutrition programs, meal patterns and menu planning strategies. 
Preliminary Agenda
Guest Presenter: Lyndi Buckingham-Schutt, PhD, RDN, LD, Iowa State University, Assistant Professor in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department and Human Science Extension and Outreach Specialist  

Learning Objectives: 

  • Increase your knowledge about child nutrition and health. Learn why meeting nutrition standards for school meals are important for children’s health and learning.
  • Ensure understanding of components, meal pattern crediting and required documentation.
  • Explore the USDA FNS Final Rule on meal pattern and nutrition standards requirements.
  • Review menu planning resources for healthy school meals.

July 30: Strategies to Maximize School Meal Participation
Description: Explore ways to increase student consumption of healthy foods and evidence around behavioral focused strategies (BFS) and how schools can implement low/no cost BFS to assist students in selecting and consuming healthier foods. 
Preliminary Agenda
Guest Presenter: Melissa Pflugh Prescott, PhD, RDN, Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University

Learning Objectives: 

  • Increase knowledge of behavioral focused strategies in school nutrition.
  • Explore ways to implement strategies to assist in increasing student consumption of healthy foods.
  • Identify ways to decrease food waste and increase school meal preparation.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of alternative breakfast service models.


Professional Standards: 12 hours (6 hours/day)
Cost: $99 per day*
Student/Intern Rate: $40 per day – Please reach out to registrations@iastate.edu to receive the promo code for the discounted rate.
* Registration fees include morning refreshments, lunch, and printed materials