Frequently Asked Questions

Are school breakfasts and lunches nutritious?

Recent Government Accounting Office (GAO) reports state "school meals are healthy and children who eat school meals consume more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy items than children who do not eat school meals." Research has shown lunches from home include a sandwich and three times more snack foods. This combination contains more carbohydrates, fat and sugar. Milk was included in 87% of the school lunches and only 7% of lunches from home. School Lunches sometimes get accused of contributing to the childhood obesity issue but the research is evidence that school lunch plays a major role in keeping our children healthy.

Are school lunches high in fat, sodium and calories?

Tredyffrin Easttown School District meals are planned according to federal regulations to provide 1/3 of the students' Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and contain no more than 30 percent calories from fat and 10 percent calories from saturated fat averaged over the week. Food items such as chicken nuggets and pizza served in our schools are specified to contain limited amounts of fat and sodium. The nutrient content is different than those sold in local fast food restaurants.

Are students involved in menu planning?

To ensure menus reflect student preferences, student feedback is encouraged. YAC (Youth Advisory Councils) will meet several times a year at each grade level to solicit student and administration input. Our goal is to plan menus that are affordable and more important provide students with several nutritious choices that they will select and eat.

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Are soft drinks available to students during the school day?

Soft drinks are not sold during the school day in Tredyffrin Easttown School District. The school food service programs operate under federal and state regulations, which restrict the sale of foods of low nutritional value. Today, the media reports many school districts are making plans to discontinue the sale of soft drinks during the school day. Tredyffrin Easttown School District is not faced with this issue because its competitive food regulation does not allow the sale of soft drinks during the school day. However, beverage vending machine that contains milk, water, sports drinks and tea are available in the High School and Middle Schools. In addition, vending snacks machines are available in secondary schools to help expedite the speed of serving lines during lunch. Items sold are reviewed by the Food and Nutrition Services department to ensure that a variety of healthy snacks are available.

How do I put money on my child's lunch account?

All TE schools are on a Point-of-Sale (POS) system, allowing parents and students the opportunity to place money on account for students. We strongly encouraged parents to pay by personal check. By paying by check you ensure several benefits to your child, including; security and speed of serving lines during lunch. To make a payment on account, write a check to TE Food Service Fund with your child's pin number in the memo section (or cash) and have your child drop off the check or cash in an envelope to the designated location at your school or homeroom. Envelopes should include your child's name and homeroom. Parents who want their checks for meals only should write "MEALS ONLY" on their check.

Can parents limit their children a la carte purchases?

To assist parents who do not want their children to purchase a la carte items, food service coordinators are able to limit money in the students' account to breakfast and lunch only. Parents can also limit total daily spending to a specific dollar amount. (i.e. no more than $3 per day). A la carte items are offered as a supplement to lunches purchased at school or brought from home. In elementary schools only a limited number of a la carte items are available. These meet the federal standards for food of minimal nutritional value and must contain at least 5% of one specific nutrient per serving. The nutrients are protein, calcium, Vitamin A and Vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, calcium, and iron. In addition, we implemented healthy snack guidelines at all elementary schools. All bagged snacks are baked and we continue to make adjustments as new and healthier items become available.

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How do parents know when their child's lunch account is running low?

Food service coordinators have been instructed to notify students when their lunch account has a three-day balance. The individual school determines what friendly method of notification will be used …, sticker or note. These will be given to the student and hopefully will be carried home. The parent can always contact the food service coordinator to request the current account balance.

What beverage substitution is made for students who are lactose intolerant or have milk sensitivity?

If a student is lactose intolerant or has sensitivity to dairy products 100% fruit juice is available as a substitution provided parents have submitted a "statement from a recognized medical authority". The medical authority may be a doctor or a physician's assistant. It is not necessary to submit a new statement each year. Fruit juice is substituted for the milk and is usually orange or apple juice.

What happens if a student forgets his/her lunch money?

Meals are available to students who pay cash or are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Federal regulations prohibit lunch charges. However, schools have procedures in place to ensure students do not go without lunch.

How are checks returned with insufficient funds handled?

Food and Nutrition Services, Tredyffrin Easttown School will make collections on checks returned with insufficient funds. A $20.00 service charge will be assessed the parent in addition to the face value of the un-payable check.

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What is Food and Nutrition Services doing to address the current childhood overweight issue?

Food and Nutrition Services has the philosophy that "we talk nutrition, serve nutrition, and teach nutrition." We believe the secret to resolving the current overweight issue is a partnership between students, parents, the school community, and government. Since students only eat one to two meals per day in their school cafeterias and school meals are nutritious, the program should not be labeled as a cause of childhood obesity. We strive to teach students about the importance of making good food choices both in the classroom and with the variety of daily meal options. However, parents need to be role models, because children learn from those around them. They should provide their children with healthy snacks, less candy and soft drinks, less time in front of the television or computer and at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.

How can the school lunch program affect children's eating habits?

School Lunch can affect children's eating habits by: · Exposing children to different and new kinds of food and food preparations · Offering a variety of choices so children learn to make wise selections · Limiting snacks and desserts to those with sound nutritional content

Is food prepared under sanitary conditions?

All food service coordinators possess current Chester County Food Manager Certification and have successfully completed our training program. All food service employees receive repeated training on proper handling, preparation, and service of food to the customer.

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