USDA – Page 3 – The Abbey Group

Save Money and Eat Well This Tax Season

It’s tax season and it’s a good time to be reminded that if you’re one of the thousands of working Vermonters with children who receive the Vermont Earned Income Tax Credit, you may also be eligible for 3SquaresVT and free school meals for your children.

3SquaresVT helps Vermonters stretch their food budgets and put three square meals a day on their tables. This program has expanded its eligibility so more Vermonters more than ever may qualify for 3SquaresVT.

3SquaresVT is a federal USDA program administered in Vermont by the Department for Children and Families, Economic Services Division – putting healthy food within reach.

Follow this link for more information about qualification!

Written by AbbeyGroup on January 15, 2015. Posted in Awareness, The Abbey Feeds, USDA

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National School Lunch Week 2014!

October 13- 17 was National School Lunch Week and The Abbey Group celebrated company-wide with contests and giveaways.

The Unity School in New Hampshire took the cafeteria contest and expanded it into their classroom. Sixth – eighth grade Language Arts teacher Jennifer Thompson of the Unity school described the event below:

The Abbey Group Pumpkin Contest–conceived by Unity Elementary School chef Cheryl Osgood and Math/Science teacher Carol Foley–was as fun as it was educational. Students had to guess the weight of a pumpkin on display, and whoever had the closest guess won the pumpkin. Winner Alicia Truell, seventh grade, was very surprised that she won and describes her educated guess: “I measured the circumference, weighed other objects and compared that to the weight of pumpkin, but I never thought that I would win.”

Students also had to explain in writing how they calculated the weight of the pumpkin, developed questions, and clarified answers to those questions. The projects were to be at least one page. Some of them are going to be given to the Department of Education, so they can be read and admired. —Alex Taylor, Grade 7, Unity Elementary School, Unity, NH

Written by AbbeyGroup on October 18, 2014. Posted in Education, Events, USDA

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Fairhaven Grade School Wins Smoothie Grant

The Fair Haven Grade School recently received a grant to purchase equipment to make fresh fruit smoothies. These smoothies will bring another exciting new breakfast option for the children.

Written by AbbeyGroup on May 8, 2014. Posted in Abbey in the News, Education, USDA, VT Department of Ed

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Swanton on track to become only gold standard ranked school in Vermont for Healthy US School Challenge

Abbey Group team member, Tina Bushey, and the NEI (Nutrition Education Institute) committee at Swanton School have worked extremely hard to develop and adhere to the rigorous nutrition and health guidelines needed to meet the criteria to achieve the gold standard for the Healthy US School Challenge. To put this into perspective, currently there is no other school in the state that has this distinction.

The HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) establishes rigorous criteria for schools’ food quality, participation in meal programs, physical activity opportunities and nutrition education–the key components that make for healthy and active kids. This program is designed to bring promotion and support of good nutrition and physical activity from the entire school and greater community. All aspects of the school and cafeteria staffs are included in these efforts.

This nationwide award program, created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2004, recognizes schools that create healthier school environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity. Schools that are doing the very best work to keep kids healthy are recognized, and high-achieving schools even receive monetary incentives (information provided by the USDA website).

Tina Bushey, and the NEI (Nutrition Education Institute) committee at Swanton School were a big part of creating a brand new resource publication about school wellness. Make sure to click the link below to read this amazing guide.

http://education.vermont.gov/documents/EDU-School_Nutrition_Serving_Up_School_Culture.pdf

Written by AbbeyGroup on December 10, 2013. Posted in Abbey in the News, Announcements, Dishing Up Local, Uncategorized, USDA, VT Department of Ed

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