Your Resource and Learning Partner
Food & Nutrition
NWSC contracts with school nutritionists who work with districts on food service operations and provide annual food nutrition program summer training. NWSC also offers ServSafe classes.
ServeSafe Training
The NWSC offers ServSafe training several times a year through its ABE program. Training is also available on demand. More information is available on the ServSafe page.
School Nutrition Program
NWSC contracts with three school nutritionists who work with districts on a review of food service operations, menu planning, nutritional analysis, managing USDA meal programs, budgeting and purchasing, training, grant writing and more.
Consultant Services
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Review of food services operations
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Nutritional analysis & nutritional label reading
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Managing USDA meal programs
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Budgeting & purchasing training
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Assistance with RFP process
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Prep for MDE review of local program
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Food service line evaluation and recommendations for improvement
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Grant writing
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Staff evaluation & training
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​HACCP food safety program
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Help with getting required food documentation
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Special diets & food allergy guidance
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Assistance with moving to more scratch food menus
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Standardized recipe development
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Commodity program assistance
School Nutrition Consultant Program
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NWSC has three registered dietitians and dietetic technicians who work as consultants with our member schools. Services are determined by a mutual agreement.
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These individuals also organized the summer food nutrition training for food service staff which is held in August at Bemidji and Thief River Falls locations.
Food Service Resources
Meet the Dietitians
Karyn Lutz, RDN
Karyn has been a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for over 30 years with most of her career spent in management and long term health care. She has been with the School Nutritionist program since its inception in 2015. She began her introduction to school food service in 2012 while working with the Kelliher District, making changes to meet regulations, improve service and manage the budget.
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Karyn thoroughly enjoys her work with schools. Having students create healthful eating habits that are lifelong, collaborating with school nutrition staff, and creating a positive culture for delicious food while meeting USDA guidelines is very rewarding.
Anna Ogaard-Brekken, NDTR
Anna is a registered Dietetic Technician with over 10 years of experience in school nutrition and food service management. She has a Masters degree in nutrition from UND. She previously was the food service director for the Crookston District where she gained experience working in a number of areas, including USDA program compliance, menu writing and analysis, food safety, and applications and claims.
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Her favorite area within school nutrition is new program implementation and grant writing.
Amanda Ryan RDN
Amanda has been working in the food service industry for over 25 years. She is currently a consultant dietitian for schools and long-term care facilities in northwest MN. She has been involved with administrative reviews, procurement procedures, summer feeding programs, menu planning, budgeting, and updating nutrition staff on new trends in school nutrition.
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Amanda enjoys working with food service staff to improve the quality of meals and to meet school nutrition guidelines to promote healthy lifestyles.
To inquire about enrolling in the the school dietitian program, contact: