Child Nutrition

FAQ

Can I prepay my child's lunch fee?
Take the hassle out of sending lunch with your child every day. Pay for a week or month in advance. Each student has an individual account, accessed by a unique account number. Payments will be credited to your child's account to be used for school meals. Payments can be made by cash or check. Contact the cafeteria manager for more information.

Why is lunch served at school?
Every child needs lunch during the school day. Many students would receive no meal or a nutritionally poor meal if they had to bring their own lunch. Research has shown that hungry children cannot learn. A child with an empty stomach is lethargic, irritable and is not able to participate fully in learning experiences. Good nutrition is critical to student achievement.

What is a school lunch?
A school lunch is planned to provide one third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) based on the student's age. Minimum quantities for each age group must be served, but larger amounts can be offered based on student needs. The meal pattern for the different age groups follows.

	Minimum Quantities Required		Optional
	Grades K-6	Grades 7-12	Grades K-3
Meat or meat alternate	2ounces	2 ounces	1.5 ounces
Vegetable and/or fruit (2 or more)	3/4 cup (plus 1/2 c per wk)	1 cup	3/4 cup
Grain/Cereal (minimum 1 per day)	12 servings per week	15 servings per week	10 servings per week
Milk, low-fat unflavored or whole	1/2 pint (8 ounces)	1/2 pint (8 ounces)	1/2 pint (8 ounces)

Why do school lunches seem so starchy?
Carbohydrates (starch) and fats are the major sources of energy in the American diet. Nutritionists recommend that Americans increase their intake of complex carbohydrates (starch) and decrease their intake of fats. Calories from complex carbohydrates such as whole grain breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables also add fiber to the diet. Fiber is needed in a healthy diet. Schools are encouraged to limit simple carbohydrates (sugar) and replace desserts with fresh fruits. Students, however, need more calories than do adults. The teenage boy has the greatest caloric need of any human. Since the meal is designed for growing students, it could provide excess calories for adults.

Why should teachers eat with students?
Teachers are role models for students. When students see teachers eating lunch at school, they recognize that the teacher thinks a balanced meal is important and that the school lunch is good to eat. Also, the teacher is able, during lunch, to encourage students to eat new foods and develop healthful food habits. For many students the school cafeteria is the primary source for learning table etiquette. The meal also makes an important contribution to a teacher's nutritional needs for the day. A healthy teacher is an asset to the teaching and learning process.

Why are school lunches offered to teachers so different across the district? Why does a teacher get the same meal portion as kindergarteners? What can be done to get better adult meal options?
The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public schools and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low cost or free lunches to children each school day. Parents, staff and other adults are welcome to purchase lunches through this program; however, the minimum requirements regarding portion sizes are established by the US Department of Agriculture with the ages of the children in mind. Danville Public Schools elected to use the required portion sizes for Grades 7-12 for all grades except preschool.(There are five portion size age options: Ages 1 and 2; Preschool; Grades K-3; Grades K-6; and Grades 7-12, which allows for the largest portion size.) Adults should receive the Grades 7-12 portion sizes even though their lunches cost more due to the fact that the federal government does not subsidize these meals. Managers have the option to occasionally offer items to adults not found on the regular, daily student menus, and this would account for most of the differences found among schools.

Can teachers and students be involved in the school nutrition program?
Yes, in fact federal regulations require the involvement of students and parents and encourage faculty and community involvement. The manager in your school needs your support and input into the planning and services of the program.

How can the manager in the school assist with nutrition education for students?
The manager has access to many resources in nutrition and nutrition education available from the system central office, the state department of education and other sources. The manager is available to talk with PTA groups, visit classrooms to discuss the school lunch program, and welcomes classes to the kitchen for tours and demonstrations.