Elementary Options

“Choices”

Elementary students may choose from a variety of lunch entrée’s and a wide selection of self-serve fruits and vegetables daily. Students like to choose what they eat. “Choices” provides them with that opportunity. Each day, three to four entrée choices are available:

Northwest Feature –a hot meal featuring traditional favorites such as pasta, turkey gravy with mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese along with new ethnic favorites such as teriyaki rice bowl and enchiladas.

Burger Bonanza – this self serve option features oven baked chicken burgers, hamburgers and specials such as low fat turkey corn dogs.

Deli Delight- another self serve option, the Deli features either a sandwich with chips or yogurt or a pre-wrapped burrito or pizza.

Pizza Perfect - selected schools may serve pizza daily depending upon their ability to cook on-site.

Garden/Orchard Buffet – eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is encouraged for optimal health. The Garden/Orchard Buffet offers a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Students self serve their favorites.

How “Choices” Works

Elementary schools have between three to six lunch periods, depending upon the size of the school. Food Services staff orders servings of each entrée choice based on previous student preference. The total number of servings ordered equals the school’s total average daily lunch participation. The number of each entrée ordered is divided between the number of lunch periods. Students are encouraged to have both a first and second entrée choice as their first choice may be gone by the time their class gets to the lunch room during their scheduled lunch period. Teachers are encouraged to bring their classes to the dining room on a rotating basis so that the same class is not always last. While it is disappointing to a student when they don’t get their first choice “Choices” ensures that a variety of foods are available daily.

Breakfast

Ongoing studies show that eating breakfast has many positive impacts including:

Ø Better Attention Span

Ø Less Fatigue

Ø Better Knowledge Retention

Ø Improved Cognitive Development

Ø Higher Test Scores

Ø Better Social Skills

Ø Reduced Absenteeism

Ø Lower Tardiness Rates

Breakfast at school is open to All students. Hectic morning schedules do not always include time for breakfast at home. This doesn’t mean students have to miss this important meal since breakfast is available in all schools. Encourage your kids to “Start Their Head” with breakfast, at home or at school!