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USDA bans deep fryers in employee cafeterias

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting down on fried foods with a new plan to eliminate deep fryers from the federal department’s cafeterias.

The employee dining overhaul is due to the USDA’s desire to meet the standards established by the Dietary Guidelines for Americas, which were developed collaboratively by the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Like many employers, USDA is taking important steps to improve our cafeteria to enhance the quality and healthfulness of food available for our employees to purchase,” says USDA Departmental Management Assistant Secretary Gregory Parham in a news release.

The two USDA cafeterias in D.C. – including the Whitten Building and the South Building at 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW – serve about 40,000 to 50,000 people each month.

In addition to banning deep-fried food options, the USDA will also establish healthy menu requirements with a new food vendor. The goal of the menu revamp is to improve the cafeterias by enhancing the quality and healthfulness of the food.

“The new vendor will also include food produced by farmers in the region and promote sustainability by encouraging use of bio-based products in cafeteria operations, which is consistent with the Department’s ongoing work,” Parham says.

Devin King works at the USDA and says he is happy with the decision to ban the deep fryers.

“We’re the agricultural building, so we should set a good example,” he says.

“It sends a good message to the public that healthy eating is important,” says Tony Jackson, another USDA employee who welcomes the new changes.

Parham assures employees that less healthy food options, such as hamburgers, pizza and French fries, will still be available for employees and public visitors who wish to choose those options. Additionally, the department will seek feedback from employees on the new changes.

USDA employee Bob Griffiths is withholding judgment on the new changes, at least for a few days.

“I’ll see how it tastes, and if I want fried food, I’ll go over to (the U.S. Department of Energy),” he says.

The new vendor and the new menu guidelines will take effect Feb. 4; the changes will take place over the course of five weekends without any interruption in food service.

The USDA says deep fryers will be eliminated from the kitchens because they are not needed by the new contractor, as indicated in the solicitation response.

WTOP’s Kathy Stewart contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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