The first of three articles covering child nutrition programs discusses how these programs can be integrated into the school environment through effective management and public relations. (MLF)

An automated food service accounting system allows management to concentrate on the problems at hand. (Author/MLF)

Details of recent federal regulations regarding child nutrition programs and ways that associations in the educational community can provide leadership and technical assistance in the direction of child nutrition programs. (Author/MLF)

The Murphy Elementary School District in Phoenix, Arizona has cut food service costs and improved community relations by cooking and baking from "scratch" and utilizing the staff's ethnic cooking skills. (MLF)

"Satelliting" or transporting food in bulk from one school kitchen or from a factory-like kitchen to smaller schools can help school districts reduce cost, improve efficiency, maintain quality, and standardize products. (MLF)

Contract food management can contain food costs and, with the contractor's team of food service professionals, provide creative programs that teach nutrition and add interest to school meals. (MLF)

Federal guidelines are detailed and specific as to what data are needed for full-cost accounting by school districts participating in federally funded school food service programs. (Author/MLF)

Suggestions to increase student participation in school lunch programs include changing the delivery systems, solicitation of student input, and improving the cafeteria environment. (Author/MLF)

A closed circuit television system was used to instruct school personnel in the use of a cost-based accounting system in order for school food service programs to receive federal funds. (MLF)

In November 1996, the American School Foodservice Association surveyed 600 school district food service directors to determine how meeting the new dietary guidelines for school lunch and breakfast programs would affect cost, student participation, and wasted food. Most directors felt that meal cost will rise and that including less popular foods…

An Arkansas school district increased student participation in the school lunch program by using top quality food, a large variety of menu items, and a dedicated staff. The district pulled all its secondary schools from the federal lunch program; however, any student could eat free by assisting in the cafeteria for at least 20 minutes. (MLF)

A program that provides a cash alternative to actual commodity food items to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Child Nutrition Program has greatly reduced processing charges and virtually eliminated warehousing expenses. By only purchasing the food wanted, and in the form preferred, the children are provided with the full commodity benefits to…

At each of Baltimore's 46 junior and senior high schools, a microcomputer system distributes tickets for subsidized lunches and transportation for over half of the students. (MLF)

The ranking minority congressman on the Committee on Education and Labor forecasts the future of federal funding for school food service programs under the Child Nutrition Act. (MLF)

Arizona's Future for Child Nutrition organization hired a professional public relations and advertising agency to increase student participation in school lunches. After, the opinions and needs of students were researched, and the agency launched a campaign that featured radio advertising, television and radio talk shows, and press coverage, with…