ASFSA.ORG Online Chat to Focus on ''Promoting School Breakfast''.

Business Editors

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 2002

Patricia Mouser, R.D., director of Food Services for the Midland Independent School District (Texas), will preside over the American School Food Service Association's online chat on the topic of "Promoting School Breakfast" on Thursday, February 28 at 4pm EST at http://www.asfsa.org .

Mouser will respond to questions about marketing school breakfast, specifically addressing ways she has turned her own district's program into a success.

In recent years, school foodservice programs have begun to address ways to expand the school breakfast program. In Mouser's district, approaching breakfast in a creative way has increased participation. Mouser's district now serves "breakfast in the classroom" as opposed to traditional breakfast service. During this chat, Mouser will discuss how effective this alternate service program is and how her unique promotion techniques have resulted in an increasingly successful breakfast program.

Mouser has been the Director of Food Services for Midland for the past 20 years and worked as a school food service supervisor/Dietitian in the San Antonio schools for the fours years prior to that. She received her degree in Foods and Nutrition from Texas Tech University. Mouser has been active in both the American and Texas School Food Service Associations, having served on the boards of both organizations. As a Registered, Licensed Dietitian, Patricia is also active in the Dietetic Association and was named the 1990 Texas Dietetic Association Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year.

The "Promoting School Breakfast" online chat is made possible through support from the National Dairy Council.

All ASFSA members and the general public are invited to participate in the chat. To participate, visit ASFSA's Web site, Your Child Nutrition eSource at http://www.asfsa.org, on the day of the chat. There will be instructions on the ASFSA home page for connecting to the chat. A transcript of the chat will be available through the Web site within three days, as well.

Please note that chat participants now can receive one Continuing Education Unit (CEU) towards ASFSA Certification by attending the chat and completing a short quiz afterwards. More information can be found on this new professional development opportunity at ASFSA's Web site in the Online Education Center.

ASFSA also has scheduled a chat for March 28, at 4 PM, EST, on Hepatitis A. ASFSA hosts chats every fourth Thursday of the month at 4 PM, Eastern time. In January, ASFSA.ORG hosted a chat on "Distance Learning." The transcript for this chat is now available.

ASFSA (http://www.asfsa.org) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. Founded in 1946, ASFSA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children's health and well-being through school meals and sound nutrition education.