Online Training
Welcome to the ABCs of School Nutrition course portal!
Our online courses make it easy to earn USDA Professional Standards credit anytime and anywhere. Check back often as we add new training opportunities on a regular basis!
Course Preview
The ABCs of School Nutrition offers online courses on a variety of topics related to USDA Professional Standards. Create an account or log in to take a course and record your hours.
Understanding Nutrition |
Promoting School Meals
Time: 15 min
Academic Success: What do diet and physical activity have to do with it?
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1320
Last updated 12/12/2022
Gain a better understanding of how school meals and physical activity contribute to student grades, classroom behavior, and health outcomes. Course Type: Recorded Webinar
Promoting School Meals
Time: 15 min
Building Flavor Stations
Professional Standards:
Operations 2130,
Communications & Marketing 4120,
Communications & Marketing 4160,
Operations 2510
Last updated 03/25/2021
Learn about the differences between herbs and spices, benefits of including them in a flavor station for your students, and how to start a flavor station. Course Type: Interactive Module
Promoting School Meals
Time: 15 min
Customer Service
Professional Standards:
Communications & Marketing 4130,
Communications & Marketing 4140
Last updated 12/12/2022
An overview of essential customer service considerations and how to promote positive relationships between students and food service staff. Course Type: Recorded Webinar
Program Management |
Promoting School Meals
Time: 15 min
Farm to School: Bringing Local Food to Your Cafeteria
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1130,
Nutrition 1220,
Nutrition 1230
Last updated 12/12/2022
Define the term "farm to school," understand the benefits of farm to school, identify sources of support, and learn how to begin procuring local foods. Course Type: Recorded Webinar
Understanding Nutrition |
Food Safety and Sanitation |
Program Management
Time: 20 min
Food Allergies in School Nutrition
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1160
Last updated 12/14/2022
Review the differences between food allergies, intolerances, and food-related autoimmune issues; common allergens and how to identify them on nutrition labels; avoiding cross-contamination; legislation related to food allergies; and responsibilities of the school nutrition program. Course Type: Recorded Webinar
Meal Planning and Quantity Food Production |
Food Safety and Sanitation |
Promoting School Meals
Time: 30 min
Garden to Cafeteria: A Guide to Using Produce from the School Garden
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1130,
Nutrition 1220,
Nutrition 1230
Last updated 12/12/2022
Learn the benefits of school gardens and how to incorporate produce into the cafeteria. Course Type: Recorded Webinar
Meal Planning and Quantity Food Production
Time: 15 min
Quality When Working with Quantity
Professional Standards:
Operations 2130,
Operations 2140,
Operations 2230,
Operations 2510,
Operations 2520
Last updated 12/12/2022
Learn best practices for serving high-quality school meals, including ways to improve taste, texture, and appearance. Course Type: Recorded Webinar
Food Safety and Sanitation |
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Reducing School Food Waste
Professional Standards:
Administration 3230,
Administration 3250
Last updated 12/12/2022
Learn strategies to decrease food waste in the school nutrition program. Course Type: Recorded Webinar
Understanding Nutrition |
Meal Planning and Quantity Food Production |
Promoting School Meals
Time: 30 min
Reducing Sugar at Breakfast
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1310,
Nutrition 1320,
Communications & Marketing 4120,
Operations 2100
Last updated 04/03/2021
Learn about added sugars, how to identify them, and ideas for reducing sugar in school breakfasts. Course Type: Recorded Webinar
Understanding Nutrition
Time: 15 min
Rethink Your Drink: All About Added Sugars (Part 1)
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1300
Last updated 02/02/2023
Learn about natural vs. added sugars, sources of added sugars, and why added sugars should be limited. Course Type: Interactive Module
Understanding Nutrition
Time: 15 min
Rethink Your Drink: Get Label Savvy (Part 2)
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1300
Last updated 02/02/2023
Learn how to identify added sugars on the ingredient list, convert between grams and teaspoons of sugar, and use the Nutrition Facts label to find beverages that are lower in added sugars. Course Type: Interactive Module
Food Safety and Sanitation |
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Share Tables: Introduction and Overview
Professional Standards:
Administration 3230,
Administration 3250,
Operations 2600
Last updated 11/06/2022
An introduction to share table operations, including what foods and beverages are acceptable, types of share tables, and food safety considerations.
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Share Tables: Planning and Logistics
Professional Standards:
Administration 3230,
Administration 3250,
Operations 2600
Last updated 06/07/2023
Learn about different share table options and considerations for daily share table operations. Course Type: Interactive Module
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Share Tables: Strategies for Success
Professional Standards:
Administration 3230,
Administration 3250,
Communications & Marketing 4100
Last updated 06/14/2023
Learn best practices for making your share table successful, including communication strategies and ways to engage students. Course Type: Interactive Module
Understanding Nutrition |
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Smart Snacks Part 1: Introduction and Background
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1300,
Administration 3230,
Administration 3260
Last updated 12/20/2022
Learn about why Smart Snacks standards are a part of Child Nutrition Programs, what types of foods and beverages are included, where and when Smart Snacks standards apply, and rules for food and beverage fundraising. Course Type: Interactive Module
Understanding Nutrition |
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Smart Snacks Part 2: General Standards
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1300,
Administration 3230,
Administration 3260
Last updated 12/20/2022
Review the Smart Snacks general standards and practice identifying whether food items meet at least one of these standards. Course Type: Interactive Module
Understanding Nutrition |
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Smart Snacks Part 3: Nutrient Standards for Snacks and Entrees
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1300,
Administration 3230,
Administration 3260
Last updated 12/20/2022
Classify food items as snacks or entrees and become familiar with the nutrient standards for each category. Course Type: Interactive Module
Understanding Nutrition |
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Smart Snacks Part 4: Nutrient Exemptions
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1300,
Administration 3230,
Administration 3260
Last updated 12/21/2022
Understand why nutrient exemptions are included in Smart Snacks, name examples of foods that are exempt from certain nutrient standards, and identify snacks that qualify as paired exemptions. Course Type: Interactive Module
Understanding Nutrition |
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Smart Snacks Part 5: Beverage Standards
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1300,
Administration 3230,
Administration 3260
Last updated 05/22/2023
Learn the standards for different types of beverages, including calorie and portion limits for elementary, middle, and high school. Course Type: Interactive Module
Understanding Nutrition |
Program Management
Time: 15 min
Smart Snacks Part 6: Blended Drinks and Smoothies
Professional Standards:
Nutrition 1300,
Administration 3230,
Administration 3260
Last updated 06/23/2023
Learn how to classify blended drinks and smoothies as foods or beverages, plus which sets of nutrient standards to use when evaluating whether they may be offered under Smart Snacks. Course Type: Interactive Module