Episode 147: School Food Serves Up Complete Meals for Our Children and Then Some!
About the Podcast
School nutrition and foodservice workers nourish our children now and for their future. We have two guests who focus their time on the school food and advocacy spaces across Pennsylvania and nationally. Kristan Delle is Director of Food Services for the School District of Upper Dublin and Nicole Melia is the Food Service Supervisor of the Great Valley School District in Malvern. You won’t want to miss out on their tips, tricks, and contagious passion for this work!
About Nicole Melia and Kristan Delle
Kristan Delle is a Registered Dietitian working as the Director of Food Services for the School District of Upper Dublin. Kristan has a degree in Nutrition from La Salle University and a Masters of Dietetic Administration from Utah State University. Aside from working in school nutrition, Kristan enjoys working as a dietetic preceptor for many programs and teaching at La Salle University.
She has been actively involved with Pennsylvania’s School Nutrition Association (SNAPA) and has served two terms as Region 3 Representative, as Programs Chair for the 2019 Annual Conference, and Conference Chair for the 2020 Annual Conference. She is now the Secretary and Treasurer of SNAPA.
Kristan lives in Bucks County with her husband, Will, their son Atticus and their two little cats, Crumb and Lil' Dirt.
Nicole Melia is the Food Service Supervisor of the Great Valley School District in Malvern, Pennsylvania. In this position, she is responsible for the overall operation of the School Food and Nutrition Department with approximately 4500 students in grade K-12 in the Great Valley Schools, as well as providing meals for private schools through the satellite meal program. Great Valley participates in the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, the Summer Food Service, and Farm to School program.
Nicole has been working in school nutrition since 2009. She has been active in SNAPA and on the SNAPA Board of Directors since 2013. She has served as the State President, Conference Chair and is the current Public Policy and Legislative Chair. She also is a member of the Association of School Business Officials and the Pennsylvania School Business Officials. For the past five years she has served as the Lead Agent for a buying cooperative representing roughly 60 school districts in eastern PA.
Discussion Takeaways
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicole and Kristan witnessed firsthand the impact universal free meal policy had on school students. Through this experience, they developed a passion for advocacy because of the influence legislation has on school meals and food access.
- The school food service industry has been operating year to year for the last three years with many unknown legislative changes.
- The Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 is a bill that increased federal reimbursement rates for free and reduced priced meals for the 2022/2023 school year. This bill has been critical for school food service programs as they navigate the challenges of increasing food prices and a competitive labor market. However, there is no current legislation to extend increased reimbursement rates from Keep Kids Fed Act beyond June 30, 2023.
- Food is a school supply, just as important as books.
- Universal free breakfasts for all students in Pennsylvania was passed into law during the 2022/2023 school year, quickly becoming the highlight of Nicole’s career as a Food Service Director!
- The Meals for All Task Force, an advocacy arm of the School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania, is petitioning for universal free lunches on a state level. A universal free lunch program means that all schools participating in the National School Lunch Program would be able to offer all students free meals, not just students who qualify for free or reduced prices lunches.
- Research shows that school meals are the healthiest meals that students have access to, because of the variety and nutrient density of foods served.
- School meals expose future generations to nutritious food and positive nutrition messages.
- School meals provide nourishment not only now but also into the future, as they help teach lifelong nutritious habits to students.
- Through universal free meals for all students, we can make societal shifts toward better health.
- Universal free meals not only impact students for the better but also the local economy, especially local agriculture and commerce, because school food service programs are often the largest food retailer in their areas.
- All foods served under the National School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program must comply with strict dietary standards. Products are specifically formulated to comply with school nutrition standards.
- No student should worry about having to access meals at school nor feel shame for getting free meals. Universal free meals removes all barriers to receiving food.
- To take action and advocate for universal free meals in Pennsylvania, sign the Meals for All petition and/or contact your legislator in support of Meals for All in Pennsylvania, by following this weblink.
#1 tip to improve access to healthy food
- Through universal free meals for all students, we can make societal shifts toward better health.
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