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MISSION
STATEMENT:
As
a partner in the education process, it is our commitment to provide
safe, quality meals that reflect a high nutritional standard, while
providing excellent customer service in a warm, friendly
environment.
NORWIN SCHOOL
DISTRICT FOOD SERVICE
At the Norwin School District, we believe that the breakfast and lunch
programs are part of the educational system. We are responsible for
teaching children nutrition and offering new and exciting food items
that meet the nutritional standards set forth in the District's
Wellness Policy. We continuously strive to make the lunch menus
more appealing, encouraging the children to
eat breakfast and lunch at school. The Food Service Department tracks
the sales of the various menu choices in order to provide the menu
items that the students prefer. This is how we determine if a
new item is a success, or if it needs to be changed or removed.
Another resource
that the Food Service Department uses to get feedback from
students, parents, administrators, teachers and staff is the Food
Advisory Council Meetings. These meetings are held on a
regular basis in the high school auditorium and are open to anyone
(i.e., students, parents, administrators, teachers or staff) who
would like to attend. We discuss the current menu items, new
menu items, and any other food-related issue. This gives the
students a platform to air any complaints directly to the Director
and the administration. It is also a great way for the
Director to share important information with the folks that attend
the meeting.
To encourage students
to make healthy food choices, the Food Service Department and the
District, through education and curriculum, teach students how to
select more health conscious choices.
We also meet the dietary needs of any student who requires a
special diet because of a medical reason. Forms may be
obtained from the Director's office or printed from the link at the
top of this page.
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Overview and History
of School Food Service
School food service is the world's largest food service business,
serving more meals a day than the fast food industry. School lunch has
often been referred to as the original fast food operation: serving
millions of lunches across the United States in a time span of 1 1/2
hours.
The National School Lunch
Act of 1946 established the National School Lunch Program to safeguard
the health and well being of our nation's children. Studies found that
the overall health of Americans was poor and many were malnourished.
Minimum nutritional requirements were defined. Prior to 1946, school
lunches were done primarily by volunteer groups serving mostly cold
lunches.
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School
Lunch Guidelines
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Elementary
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Secondary
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Calories
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644
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846
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Protein
(g)
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8.87
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16.7
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Total
Fat %
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30%
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30%
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Saturated
Fat %
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10%
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10%
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Iron
(mg)
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3.3
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4.5
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Calcium
(mg)
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267
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400
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Vitamin
A (re)
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211
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300
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Vitamin
C (mg)
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15
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19.2
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School Meal
Initiative
The third addition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans was released
in 1990 and triggered the new guidelines for school meals. The School
Meal Initiative is designed to meet 1/3 of the dietary guidelines for
children for lunch. All school lunches have an age appropriate calorie
allowance, with less than 30% of the calories from fat and 12-15% of the
calories from protein.
The Norwin
School District participates in the Federal Food Program. The purpose of
this program is to provide a hot, nutritious lunch for students of families
in the low and below minimum income range. Guidelines and applications for
this program are sent home with students at the beginning of each school
year and are made available throughout the year through the district's Food
Service Office. When the applications are completed and returned, a determination
is made whether the child is eligible for a free or reduced price lunch.
Free and reduced lunch lists are also used by the district in determining
individual building eligibility for Title 1 remedial reading services.
The U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities
on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication
of all program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, Washington,
DC 20250-9410 or call (202)720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.
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