School Nutrition Unit

Our Mission

The CDE School Nutrition Unit administers the USDA Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) that provide healthy food to children in Colorado. Each of these programs helps to fight hunger and obesity and promotes the health and well-being of children. School Nutrition is committed to ensuring all school-aged children have equal access to healthy meals by supporting, training, and connecting Colorado's child nutrition community.

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The Dish is our monthly e-newsletter designed to help you implement Child Nutrition Programs.

Child Nutrition Programs

National School Lunch Program

Summer Food Service Program

Special Milk Program

School Breakfast Program | Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | After School Snack Program | Provisions | Seamless Summer Option

Monthly Spotlight

The Afterschool Snack Program: Bridging the Afternoon Hunger Gap 

East Otero School District started the Extended Day Afterschool Snack Program in SY 18-19. As a district they recognized that there was a need for some addition nourishment for the students in the district throughout the day. East Otero operates a four day school week, lending its self to a longer school days throughout week.  East Otero identified that there were some large time periods where a snack might help the kids stay awake, alert, and focused on learning instead of being focused on their empty stomachs. Some big concerns were in the late afternoon kindergarten to eighth graders, have lunch periods as early as 11:00am. With many students participating in sports and extracurricular activities they were not getting the nourishment they needed to perform at their peak. High school lunch periods begin late in the afternoon leaving many students hungry several hours before lunch. The snack program helped the district address these concerns and individualize the program to the needs to the grade. With proper promotion and teacher/staff education the district has received wide acceptance and positive responses from students, teachers, administration, and parents. Participation rate for the ASP above 87% for the district from the moment that we unveiled the program.  It is a great program and it really helped the district fill a need that our students had.

Adams County School District 14 successfully streamline the traditional ASP by improving many processes and procedures including service style, civil rights training for staff members, education and training around the snack program. This is done through standardized forms Adams 14 has created internally and has worked hard to create a culture of expectations in each building around helping staff to understand the why behind the program. Adams 14 also ensure all 11 sites within the district are following procedures set in place  and ensuring a student takes the required items giving students a balanced snack to help them grow, learn, and play.

Frequently Requested

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race,color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.This institution is an equal opportunity provider.