PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
Team Nutrition (TN) Training Grants for healthy school meals have been identified in USDA's National Strategic Plan for training and technical assistance as one of the anchor delivery systems for supporting the implementation of USDA's nutrition requirements and The Dietary Guidelines for Americans in school meals. TN Training Grants offer funding to State agencies to deliver new and innovative training programs based on one or more of TN's three behavior-oriented strategies: 1) providing training and technical assistance for Child Nutrition food service professionals to help them serve meals that look good, taste good and meet nutrition standards; 2) providing multifaceted, integrated nutrition education for children and their parents. This education will build skills and motivation for children to make healthy food and physical activity choices as part of a healthy lifestyle; and 3) providing support for healthy eating and physical activity by involving school and child care administrators and other school and community partners. States are encouraged to implement these behavior-oriented strategies through one or more of the six communication channels. These include: 1) food service initiatives; 2) classroom activities; 3) school-wide events; 4) home activities; 5) community programs and events; and 6) media events and coverage. These channels offer a comprehensive network for delivering consistent nutrition messages to children and their caretakers which will educate them about the importance of healthy eating and reinforce the messages through a variety of sources.

ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. AGRICULTURE;
- Technical Assistance, Information and Services;
2. FOOD AND NUTRITION;
- Food and Nutrition for Children;

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans);
- School;

WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);