Nutrition FAQ's

Does eating breakfast make a difference in school performance? Are school meals healthy by today's standards? Why is breakfast and lunch served at school? Is breakfast served in the classroom? How can the school lunch program affect children's eating habits? Are there any vegetarian meals? What is Food and Nutrition Service doing to address the current childhood obesity issue? Are schools allowed to serve anything they want? Who plans the school menus? Are students involved in menu planning? Are soft drinks and candy available to students during the school day? Can parents limit their children's a la carte purchases? Why does an adult meal cost more? Is food prepared under sanitary conditions? Will my child be able to get a school lunch when his or her class goes on a field trip? Is there a difference in the meals served to children who are free, reduced or paid? What if my child has a food allergy? Do you offer non-pork entrées? Does eating breakfast make a difference in school performance? Eating breakfast should be as important a part of learning as doing homework. Studies show that students who eat a nutritious breakfast: Perform better on tests. Are more alert and attentive. Cause less disciplinary problems. Have less absenteeism and tardiness. Breakfast is no charge for all DPS students attending schools with a breakfast program. Back to top Are school meals healthy by today’s standards? School meals are very healthy choices by today’s standards. Recent Government Accounting Office (GAO) reports state “school meals are healthier and children who eat school meals consume more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy items than children who do not eat school meals.”  All meals are low in fat and provide well-balanced servings from each food group.  School lunches provide 1/3 and school breakfast provides 1/4 of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for calories, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium.  Each week’s menu has less than 30% of its calories from fat with less than 10% from saturated fat.  While there are different specific requirements for each age group, a school lunch includes: meat or meat alternate, bread or grain products, two or more fruits and/or vegetables, and milk.  We offer an occasional dessert while ensuring that fat, salt and sugar are held at a minimum.   In addition to the meals, some schools offer additional items which students may purchase.  All of these products, which are sold by Food and Nutrition Services, also meet strict fat and sodium guidelines. Back to top Why are breakfast and lunch served at school? Research  confirms that children who skip breakfast and/or a lunch have problems in the classroom.  A child with an empty stomach can be lethargic or irritable and is not able to participate fully in the learning experience. Good nutrition is critical to student performance and is an integral part of the education process.  HUNGRY CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN.  In addition, school meals are an excellent opportunity for all students to obtain a nutritious breakfast or lunch, socialize with their peers or staff and have some time for a break in their school day.  Eating after arrival at school works much better for many students who find it difficult to eat when they first wake up in the morning.  Lunch provides a hot meal year round, if desired.  If a family is eligible, many students may eat these meals for free or at a reduced price. Back to top Is breakfast served in the classrooms? Several DPS Schools offer breakfast in the classroom.  This provides a nourishing breakfast, at no charge to all students in that school. Back to top How can the school lunch program affect children's eating habits? Since all school meals are required to meet the federal dietary guidelines, it can model the portion sizes that are healthy, rather than the more commercially common “supersized” portions.  The school meals are offered in controlled portions and can show students what a balanced meal looks like. School meals exposes students to different and new kinds of food.  By offering a wide variety of choices, students learn to make wise selections. Back to top Are there any vegetarian meals? Meatless choices are offered on the menu daily and are marked with a large green "V". A student can indicate to the server if he/she does not want meat. Back to top What is Food and Nutrition Services doing to address the current issue of childhood obesity? Childhood obesity is a complex issue.  Eating, exercise and daily habits are equally important in maintaining a healthy weight. We teach students about the importance of making good food choices with the variety of daily meal options. Students are offered meals in controlled portions so students can see what a healthy portion of a variety of foods looks like. Most foods are baked instead of fried. Low fat 1% and skim milk is offered. Food items such as chicken nuggets and pizza served in our schools are specified to contain limited amounts of fat and sodium; this is not the same product you would get in the fast food restaurants. But remember, students only eat a maximum of two meals per day in their school cafeteria, and while we do model healthy choices and correct portion sizes, parents and guardians need to be role models also.  They should provide their children with healthy meals and snacks, less candy and soft drinks, less time in front of the TV or computer and have them exercise at least 60 minutes a day. Back to top Are schools allowed to serve anything they want? Denver Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services follow the National School Lunch meal pattern required by the USDA.  These guidelines require school lunches to average no more than 30% calories from fat with not more than 10% calories from saturated fat in a one-week period.  In addition, all “other” foods sold on campus (school stores, fund raisers, etc.), must to follow Denver Public School’s Wellness Policy that sets strict nutritional guidelines on food items. Back to top Who plans the school menus? The menus are planned by a registered dietitian with a committee of area supervisors and input from students, parents and school kitchen managers and staff.   Many factors need to be considered when planning menus. These factors include student acceptability of food items, meeting dietary guidelines, production and serving, school locations and cost. Backto top Are students involved in menu planning? We look at student meal participation and listen to requests when menu planning is done.  We regularly do taste tests with student participants at numerous schools when we are considering new products.  We have in a nutrition advisory group that meet two to three times a year.  We would welcome parents and staff to participate in this council also.  If you or your student is interested, please contact Jennifer Cook @ 720-423-5605.  Back to top Are soft drinks and candy available to students during the school day? The Colorado Department of Education Competitive Food Rule (CDE) states, no foods or beverages can be sold in competition with the school food service program ½ hour before, during and ½ hour after the breakfast and/or lunch period.  In order to provide healthier choices to students at all times during the school day, the Food and Nutrition Services does not sell candy or carbonated beverages at any time during the school day.  Beverage vending machines must be on timers and follow the same CDE food rule.  It is the principal’s responsibility to ensure that the sale of “Other” foods, not under the jurisdiction of the Food and Nutrition Service Department,  on campus meet the DPS Wellness Policy. Back to top Can parents limit their children's a la carte purchases? The cafeteria manager can place a notice on the child’s account to restrict a la carte purchases.  However, the manager cannot enforce it if the child chooses to ignore the instruction.  You may send a written notice to the cafeteria manager if you want this notice placed on the student’s account, but the parent must also inform the student of the limit.  A la carte items are offered as a supplement to lunches purchased at schools or brought from home.  Very few elementary schools sell a la carte items and then only a limited number are available.  These meet all federal and state standards for sold in addition to reimbursable meals. Back to top Why does an adult meal cost more? The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs are intended to serve students.  Although we are always happy to sell meals to adults, federal and state regulations do not allow us to subsidize adult meals.  We do not receive any reimbursement or commodity value for adult meals; therefore, an excellent bargain, but it must cost more than the student meal. Back to top Is food prepared under sanitary conditions? All kitchens and serving sites are inspected twice per year by the Denver Department of Environmental Health.  In addition, managers and staff receive regular training in sanitation and safety, proper food handling, preparation and serving of food to our customers by SFSPAC, a company that has been contracted to provide cleaning supplies and regular monthly training on sanitation.  Policies and procedures to ensure sanitary conditions are in place in all kitchens.  In addition, all managers are trained in HACCP (Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points) procedures, which is federally mandated. Back to top Will my child still be able to get a school lunch when his or her class goes on a field trip? Teachers are encouraged to order sack lunches for all students who want a lunch for a field trip.  This meal provides all the necessary food for a complete lunch and is the same price as the regular meal.  For the students that qualify, this sack lunch would be provided free or at a reduced price. Back to top Is there a difference in the meals served to children who are free, reduced or paid? No. Back to top What if my child has a food allergy? Generally, children with food allergies or intolerances do not have a disability as defined under 7 CFR 15b.2 of USDA's nondiscrimination regulations and school food authorities may, but are not required to, make substitutions for them.  If a student is lactose intolerant or has a sensitivity to dairy products, fruit juice will be available as a substitute provided parents/guardians have submitted a “statement from a qualified medical authority.”  The medical authority may be a doctor, a nurse, or a physician’s assistant. A substitution will be made on a on a case-by-case basis. In most cases, food allergies can be managed within the normal meal service, as we have a well planned variety of nutritious food choices and Offer vs. Serve is available.  Students do not have to take the milk. Back to top Do you offer non-pork entrées? Most of our entrées do not contain pork. Those few that do, are marked with a large pink "P".  Back to top