Meals Plus Monthly E-Newsletter - November 2015

This District Saved 10 Hours Per Week After Implementing Meals Plus Menus

Prior to 2014, Nancy Mears, Director of School Nutrition for Laurel School District in Delaware, was struggling with an outdated and non-functional cafeteria software system. Her staff was working with spreadsheets, paper forms and systems that weren't integrated. What she needed was a system that was web-enabled, accessible from any computer in the district (including the district office) and had all of the necessary components to run her department. That's where Meals Plus came in.

Meals Plus' school cafeteria management system included everything she needed: a single, centralized database with real-time updates, an online payment website for parents, and a robust software suite. Since implementing Meals Plus, Nancy and her staff are able to better manage their inventories, meal production records, student allergies and special diets. Just by using Meals Plus Menus, Nancy and her team have saved at least ten hours of work per week!

The biggest improvement they have noticed since implementing Meals Plus is their district's accountability. They can view everything in one central location – from their Meals Plus login – without referencing separate spreadsheets or reviewing paper copies. Nancy looks forward to learning more about the software and how it will continue to save them time and improve their operations.

Interested in Meals Plus? Request a free 30 day software trial
or call 1-800-541-8999 for more information!

Meals Plus Customer Spotlight

Linda Miller, Perkins Local Schools (OH)

Linda Miller of Perkins Local Schools (OH) is a long-time Meals Plus customer that is still finding new ways Meals Plus can help her child nutrition operations. She recently implemented the Menu Planning and Nutrient Analysis program, which helps her stay on top of allergies, menu components and has been "a huge time saver" for her. Get to know Linda in this "Meals Plus Customer Spotlight" and click here to "meet" other food service directors from across the US!

The Dish: How long have you been using Meals Plus?
Linda Miller: I have been a Meals Plus customer since the Fall of 2002. Ben Hooks (CEO) came to demo the system and helped set our school up. As more requirements have been placed on the shoulders of food service directors, I have come to rely on my Meals Plus cafeteria software more and more.

TD: What duties and responsibilities does your position entail?
LM: I am responsible for everything from soup to nuts and bolts! I manage my staff, order food, prepare bids and menus, along with the nutritional analysis of those menus. I am responsible for the upkeep of my software and tons of paperwork that the Meals Plus system helps me with, and even order the equipment and repair parts when necessary. Anything within the Food Service Department winds up on my desk. Meals Plus has made my job easier. Our school is up for review this year and I will be using many of the reports to prepare for the review. Thank you, Meals Plus!

TD: What aspects of your position do you enjoy the most?
LM: I truly enjoy my interactions with the students and my staff. They are what my job is all about.

TD: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
LM: I have two grandchildren, ages three years old and six months old. They are the light of my life. My husband and I both enjoy gardening, so I'm busy in the summer with flowers and preserving all the vegetables from the gardens. I also enjoy cooking, cross stitch, knitting, crochet and sitting down with a good book.

TD: What was your favorite cafeteria lunch when you were a student?
LM: Pizza burgers and the wonderful homemade cookies our lunch ladies made every day! I have some of those cookie recipes from my high school days that I still make.

Thank you, Linda, for being a part of the Meals Plus Family!

Tips from Cynthia Sevier, SNS,
Child Nutrition Operations Consultant

In Cynthia Sevier's white paper, "Fiscal Survival 101 for Child Nutrition: Financial Success in the Era of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act", she examines the four indicators of evaluating your child nutrition program's financial health. The first is "cost to revenue."

Possibly one of the most important financial statements used by a child nutrition director is the "profit and loss statement" or "statement of revenue and expenditures." The statement gives the total revenue by source, total expenditures by category and the net gain or loss of the program for the time frame covered by the statement.

It is extremely helpful to compare month-to-month figures and month-to-same-month in prior year figures. Trends of expenditures or revenue streams can be revealed through comparison of data. The statement can alert directors of budget concerns if the revenues and/or expenses are not matching budget projections. It can also signal that food and/or labor costs are excessive and need immediate attention.

To read more about the four indicators of financial health,
download your free copy of
"Fiscal Survival 101 for Child Nutrition: Financial Success in
the Era of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act"

Meet the Team: Joy

Get to know the members of the Meals Plus Sales Team! Joy Miller is a Meals Plus Account Manager that spends the majority of her time talking to school districts to see if Meals Plus cafeteria management software is a good fit for their operations.

The Dish: How long have you been at Meals Plus?
Joy: Since June of 2011.

TD: What duties and responsibilities does your position entail?
J: I am responsible for Regional Account Development for Meals Plus. I also enjoy assisting with new customer implementations and training.

TD: What aspects of your position do you enjoy the most?
J: I enjoy developing relationships with Meals Plus customers. The people we work with are so passionate about this industry that it is very rewarding to provide them with the tools they need to make their jobs easier!

TD: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
J: In my free time, I volunteer with the Junior League to serve the Dallas Community. I also enjoy spending as much time as possible with my family, friends and puppies!

TD: What was your favorite lunch when you were in school?
J: I loved the chicken fillet sandwiches.

Visit our blog to meet the rest of the Meals Plus Team!

School Nutrition Conferences

We are spreading the word on how Meals Plus makes managing your school's students, staff, menus, finances and inventory easier. Come see us at the following conferences:

In This Issue

- Laurel SD Spotlight
- Customer
  Spotlight
- Fiscal Survival 101
- Meet the Team
- Conferences

Components

- Point of Sale
- Free & Reduced
- Online Services
- Inventory
- PowerSchool
  Connector
- Menu Planning
- Nutrient Analysis
- Accountability
- Financial
- Time Clock
- Fixed Assets

Free Resources

The Five P's of Promoting Your School Meal Program

Fiscal Survival 101: Financial Success in the Era of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act

Keeping the Lunchline Moving: Tips to Increase the Speed of Your Lunchlines

Managing the Money on the Pantry Shelves: Inventory Management for Your Child Nutrition Program