Team Nutrition
What is Team Nutrition?
Team Nutrition is an initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to support the Child Nutrition Programs through training and technical assistance for food service, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity. Team Nutrition is an integrated, behavior-based, comprehensive plan for promoting the nutritional health of the Nation’s school children. This plan involves schools, parents, and the community in efforts to continuously improve school meals and to promote the health and education of school children. Team Nutrition encourages kids to make the following healthy choices:
- Eat a variety of foods
- Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Eat lower fat foods more often
- Get your calcium-rich foods
- Be physically active
Team Nutrition has three behavior-focused strategies:
- Provide training and technical assistance to Child Nutrition food service professionals to enable them to prepare and serve nutritious meals that appeal to students.
- Promote nutrition curriculum and education in schools through multiple communication channels to reinforce positive nutrition messages and encourage students to make healthy food and physical activity choices as part of a healthy lifestyle.
- Build school and community support for creating healthy school environments that are conducive to healthy eating and physical activity.
2026 Team Nutrition Mini-Grant: Now Accepting Applications
The Nebraska Department of Education’s Office of Coordinated Student Support Services is pleased to announce that applications for $2,000 mini grants, funded through a USDA Team Nutrition grant, are now open. This mini grant opportunity aims to support Afterschool Programs, Clubs, and Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) programs in helping PreK-12 students and/or Transition Program students develop scratch-cooking skills, increase their familiarity of local foods and nutrient dense ingredients, expand nutrition knowledge, and encourage healthy eating. In addition, these grants will help promote family engagement through take-home recipes and strengthen school wellness efforts. Up to 25 mini grants are available.
Interested applicants are encouraged to review the 2026 Team Nutrition Mini Grant Overview for examples of allowable activities and a sample budget, as well as the Allowable & Unallowable Costs Guide for additional details and grant restrictions.
Application Link: Team Nutrition Mini Grant Application
Access the Team Nutrition Mini Grant application using the link provided above. Only online applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on Friday, October 23, 2026 through the Google from will be accepted; incomplete applications or applications submitted via mail or email will not be accepted.
*Only schools/programs operating USDA School Meals Programs (e.g., NSLP, SBP, Afterschool Snack Program) or Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At Risk Afterschool Meals and Outside School Hours Care Centers (OSHCC) are eligible to apply.
**Limit of 1 application per school building.
A copy of the application responses will be sent to the email address of the respondent. A printable reference copy of the application form and mini grant work plan may be accessed below:
Application Deadline
Applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on Friday, October 23, 2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted or considered. Award notifications will be made in late November 2026, and the grant period will end September 15, 2027.
Contact Lauren Christensen at lauren.christensen@nebraska.gov with any questions.
Team Nutrition Projects:
Team Nutrition Resources
Click on the linked text (e.g., Apple Card) to download a printable version (two cards/page) of each nutrition education card. An asterisk * denotes a Nebraska Harvest of the Month featured item.
Food connects us — in schools, families, and communities. 🍎 Explore resources and recipes that celebrate scratch cooking, local Nebraska foods, and lifelong healthy eating available on the following Nebraska Department of Education webpages:
- Nebraska Team Nutrition: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/team-nutrition/
- Nebraska Harvest of the Month: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/harvest-of-the-month/
- Nebraska Beanstock: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/beanstock/
All foods can fit into a healthy meal pattern — it’s about balance, variety, and enjoying the foods that help us feel our best. 🥗 Explore nutrition education resources, local food resources, and recipes on the following Nebraska Department of Education webpages:
- Nebraska Team Nutrition: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/team-nutrition/
- Nebraska Harvest of the Month: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/harvest-of-the-month/
- Nebraska Beanstock: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/beanstock/
Food tells a cultural story—one filled with tradition, memory, and connection. 🌾 Explore various foodways and cultures through Nebraska Department of Education – Team Nutrition & Farm to School recipes available at:
- Nebraska Team Nutrition: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/team-nutrition/cultural-nutrition/
- Nebraska Harvest of the Month: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/harvest-of-the-month/
- Nebraska Beanstock: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/beanstock/
Healthy eating fuels every stage of life—strong bones, a healthy heart, protection from disease, and the building blocks our bodies need. 🌱 Find recipes and nutrition resources on the following Nebraska Department of Education webpages:
- Nebraska Team Nutrition: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/team-nutrition/
- Nebraska Harvest of the Month: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/harvest-of-the-month/
- Nebraska Beanstock: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/beanstock/
Sharing a meal brings people together. From cooking to conversation, every step helps us learn about our food and each other. 🍽️ Getting children involved in the kitchen from an early age builds confidence and cooking skills that last a lifetime. Need recipe inspiration? Check out resources and recipes on the following Nebraska Department of Education webpages:
- Nebraska Team Nutrition: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/team-nutrition/
- Nebraska Harvest of the Month: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/harvest-of-the-month/
- Nebraska Beanstock: https://www.education.ne.gov/ns/farm-to-school/beanstock/
NDE is aware of the recent release of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). We are currently awaiting additional guidance from USDA regarding the transition timeline for updating resources that include the MyPlate logo, key messages, and/or references to MyPlate tip sheets. NDE will revise materials as needed once that guidance is available; however, we anticipate that most updates will occur after the end of SY 2025–26. In the meantime, we encourage continued use of existing resources and recipes, which support overall healthy eating patterns.