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Our Goals:
To provide students attending Stillwater Area Schools with nutritious, good quality, affordable meals.
To provide a pleasant atmosphere and menus students will enjoy.
To be a partner in the nutrition education process within Stillwater Area Schools in teaching healthy eating habits that will provide better health throughout their lives. |
Menu Planning
While school districts have some flexibility in what foods we offer to our students, we are required to plan menus in accordance with guidelines set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These guidelines follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Recommended Daily Allowances for all age groups for protein, iron, calcium, and Vitamin A & C. |
Requirements for Lunch:
The National School Lunch Program Meal Pattern requires our lunches to provide one-third of a student's daily nutritional requirements. This is achieved by offering five items in minimum quantities. They are as follows: 2 oz. meat/meat alternate daily; 1 cup (2 or more servings) fruit and/or vegetable daily; 12-15 servings of grains/bread weekly; and 8 ounces milk daily. |
Requirements for Breakfast:
The National School Breakfast Program Meal Pattern requires us to offer four items in minimum quantities. They are as follows: 8 ounces of milk daily; ½ cup fruit, vegetable, or juice daily; and either 2 grains/bread servings daily, or 1 grains/bread serving and 1 ounce of meat/meat alternate.
Our menus are planned under the guidance of a registered dietician. Menus are analyzed for their nutritional value to ensure all guidelines are met. Menu analysis is based on the student consuming all items required by USDA. One of the challenges we have in schools is to get students to choose and eat a well-balanced meal. When we plan menus we offer a variety of foods that are age appropriate and kid-friendly. It is our hope that by doing so, students will choose a variety of foods to create a healthy, well-balance meal that they will eat. |
Offer Vs. Serve:
All of our schools participate in the "offer vs serve" option. This approach is where meals are selected by students and not dictated. We find that this gives students an opportunity to eat healthier and help cut down on food waste. To meet the federal requirements for breakfast, students must choose a minimum of three items from the four groups listed above (milk, fruits/vegetables, grains/breads, and meat/meat alternate). For lunch, students must choose a minimum of three items from the five groups listed above (meat/meat alternate, fruits, vegetables, grains/breads, and milk).
We provide a wide variety of foods within each group so that students will build a well-balanced, nutritious meal. Some of the items to choose from include milk (low fat white, skim, low fat chocolate), entrees (at least two main entrees daily at the elementary schools, and at least five main entrees at the secondary schools). Additionally, bread is available for students desiring additional servings, and we offer a variety of fresh and canned fruits and vegetables every day. Please urge your child(ren) to let the cooks know what they would like to eat. At the same time, encourage them to try new food items we offer. Children may ask for smaller portions when trying foods that are unfamiliar. |
Our Staff:
School food service workers in our District are professionals who are dedicated to providing nutritious and quality meals to the students attending Stillwater Area Schools. They attend classes and workshops on topics such as sanitation, safety, nutrition, and human relations. They become certified food handlers and are involved in the American and Minnesota School Food Service Association, and the Minnesota Department of Health. They take pride in their work and believe that a child who eats well is a better learner. |
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