The GESD Food and Nutrition Department (“Food Service”) offers students well-balanced, inexpensive breakfasts and lunches. Over the past few years, Food Services has been modifying its menus and programs to provide healthier choices for our students. We have switched to low-fat dairy products, serve more poultry, use more whole-wheat baked goods, and offer a greater variety of fresh and unsweetened fruits and vegetables than ever before.

Menus are sent home with students at the beginning of each month. This helps students plan ahead and decide if they want to purchase a school meal, buy something from Extra Food Sales, or bring a sack lunch from home. Breakfast menus are posted in the cafeteria.

At school, children may select a “complete” school meal, or purchase items a la carte. For a school meal, students go through the regular line and are expected to select at least three of the five lunch items offered. At breakfast, students must choose at least three of the four breakfast items offered.

A limited selection of a la carte items, such as sandwiches, pizza, fruit, milk, juices, and other items, are sold through the school cafeteria. Purchases are on a cash-only basis. The intent of Extra Food Sales is to provide a service to children who may not be able to eat a complete meal (for example, if he/she wants only a sandwich) or who want to supplement a nutritious school meal or sack lunch with extra items. Although most children do use Extra Food Sales as intended, there is the potential for abuse. (We certainly do not want any student to eat an excessive number of snack-type items; however, with the large number of students we feed every day, it is difficult for the cafeteria staff to monitor every child’s purchases.)

Therefore, we ask your cooperation in making sure your child is eating responsibly. Talk to him/her about the importance of eating healthy, nutritious foods in addition to favorite snack items. Suggest items you would like him/her to purchase from Extra Food Sales. Also, periodically ask your child what he/she had for lunch that day. If you believe there is still a problem with what your child is eating during the school day, please feel free to discuss it with your child’s teacher or principal.

School Meal Prices

Your child may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals if your family income falls within certain guidelines. Application forms are distributed at the beginning of the school year, and are also available at the school office or cafeteria. The application must be completed and approved before a child is eligible for free or reduced meals. A new application must be submitted each year. If your child qualified for the program last year, he/she will remain eligible until 30 days after the first day of school, or until the new application is approved.

The district does not have provisions for charging meals. If your child does not have money for a meal, he/she should advise the teacher, school nurse, food service manager, or cashier.

Because school cafeterias are “licensed” facilities, state law does not allow homemade foods to be served in the cafeteria. If you wish to bring homemade foods to your child’s classroom for a special occasion, all students, teachers, and guests must wash their hands, and only one person should serve the food. Store-purchased foods may be served in the cafeteria (with the principal’s permission) by groups such as PTA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or similar service organizations. If store-purchased food is to be prepared in the cafeteria, a paid district food services staff member must be present.

The Food Services Department can cater classroom parties, dances, and other special events. Please consult with your school’s cafeteria manager for selections, prices, and other details. We can also provide sack lunches for field trips. Be sure to notify your cashier or cafeteria manager at least one week before the field trip if you will need a sack lunch.