NUTRITION POLICY FAQ's

Our Mission is Good Nutrition

Northside ISD Child Nutrition has been audited for implementation of the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Child Nutrition Programs. As committed nutritional professionals, we are proud to say that we had no recommendations and were complimented on meeting the guidelines for healthy school meals. We were recognized by the Texas Department of Agriculture/Texas Association of School Nutrition/Education Service Center Region 20 for our nutritional commitment as a department.

Northside ISD Child Nutrition menus are planned by a registered dietitian with a goal of providing a variety of nourishing kid friendly menu items at an affordable price. Food preferences of the community are considered so that students will like the menu choices offered.

Our menus over a school week contain less than 30% fat and 10% saturated fat while providing 1/3 of the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA's) for students at lunch. We offer kid friendly foods, where recipes and food preparation techniques have been modified to reduce the fat, salt, and sugar content in the meals, while maintaining the required level of essential nutrients. At the same time we have increased the fiber, fruit and vegetable content of the meals. We use low fat condiments, sauces and gravies, reduced fat cheeses, whole wheat flour, lean ground beef, reduced fat pepperoni, 1% low fat milk, fruits packed in their own juice or light syrup and offer daily a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. We have worked with manufacturers to develop healthier versions of pizza, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, chicken fried steak, and other student favorites.

Northside Child Nutrition follows guidelines set forth in the Eat Smart School Nutrition Program, which is part of the CATCH Program (Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health) and the National School Lunch Program Guidelines. We also meet the new Texas Public School Nutrition Policy guidelines set forth by the Texas Department of Agriculture. We are pleased to say that we have followed many of the guidelines set forth in the new policy for many years prior to its implementation.

Northside Child Nutrition is truly committed to providing healthy meals to help students grow in mind and in body. We will continue to make healthy meal changes behind the scenes. We encourage students to try different foods and use the cafeteria as a learning laboratory for making nutritious choices. For more information on menus, nutrition information and nutrition educations, see our web page at www.nisd.net; click Child Nutrition under Departments.

Average Weekly Nutritional Summary for Elementary Lunch Menus

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Medical Statement for Children with Special Dietary Needs
Texas Department of Agriculture -Child Nutrition Guidelines

"Each special dietary request must be supported by a statement that explains the food substitution that is requested. It must be signed by a recognized medical authority. In these cases, recognized medical authorities may include physicians, physician assistants, or advance practice nurse (Nurse Practioners).

The medical statement must include:
*an identification of the medical or other special dietary condition that restricts the child's diet;
*the food or foods to be omitted from the child's diet; and the food or choice of foods to be substituted.

The medical statement will be kept on file during the time frame the student is in school in the cafeteria and at the main food service office. A medical statement is required for special diet request and must be updated when moving from elementary school to middle school and middle school to high school if the school cafeteria is to assist with special diets."

Please contact your cafeteria manager if you need assistance with special dietary needs. We can work to make limited substitutions with other food items we have on hand to assist special diet requests. Parents will need to mark menus for their children with special dietary needs. The cafeteria managers will follow these menus during the year.

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Food Items Brought In from Outside of Food Service

Please note students/staff may bring food items from the outside for their own consumption. Child Nutrition Staff (cafeteria staff) is unable to heat, store or refrigerate any food items brought in from outside of the Child Nutrition Department due to Health Department concerns.

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MENUS

To assist students and parents in making healthy breakfast and lunch choices, we have color coded our menus. The menus follow the CATCH Program-Eat smart Guidelines for GO, SLOW and WHOA menu items.

GO foods are foods that you can eat "almost anytime".

SLOW foods are "sometimes foods" - foods that you can eat maybe a few times a week. (These foods are higher in fat.)

WHOA foods are "once in a while foods" - foods that you can eat on occasion but need to be combined with other GO foods. (These foods are highest in fat.)

All Northside ISD schools offer breakfast to students - Breakfast Menu

Breakfast menus are designed to meet one-fourth of the recommended dietary allowances. Students may select 3 to 4 different food items. Milk, Juice or both must be selected to make a reimbursable meal.

Lunch is also offered to all students at all campuses - Lunch Menu

Lunch menus are designed to meet one-fourth of the recommended dieatary allowances. Lunch consists of an entree, two selections of fruit, vegetables or salad, bread which may be a part of the entree or separate and a choice of milk. Students may select all five components or may take three components for a full meal. Meals are priced as a unit; however, each item is available a la carte.

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Menu Item Listing- (Calories, Fiber, Protein, Carbohydrates, Fat)

Please note: These are estimates only on calories, fiber, protein, carbohydrates and fat. Products, product formulations and recipes are subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to provide the best estimates possible.