Child Nutrition

Child Nutrition Contacts

Kelly Weldele, District Child Nutrition Coordinator

Marcy Hayes, District Child Nutrition Secretary

Department Phone: 513-598-2959

We are a self-supporting district department, which means no tax dollars fund Child Nutrition Services. All costs, including equipment, supplies, and salaries, are covered by student and staff meal purchases and federal reimbursements from the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.

To increase the acceptance and consumption of school lunches, we utilize a provision known as “Offer versus Serve” in all of our lunchrooms. This option is intended to reduce food waste by allowing children to choose three of the five meal components offered at each lunch, although all five components are the better value and are recommended. Students must take 1/2 cup of fruit and/or vegetable to count as a meal.

The five meal components are:

1. Meat/Meat Alternative: Minimum of 1 oz. serving grades K-8 daily; 9 weekly. Minimum 2 oz. serving grades 9-12 daily; 10 weekly. Meat/Meat alternates consist of: lean meat, cheese, eggs, beans, yogurt, No Nut butter or seeds.
2. Grains/Breads: Minimum 1 serving (1 oz. equivalent) daily with minimum 8 weekly for grades K-8; Minimum 2 servings (1 oz. equivalent) daily with minimum of 10 weekly for grades 9-12.  
3. Fruits: Minimum ½ cup for grades K-8 daily; 1 cup for grades 9-12 daily.
4. Vegetables: Minimum 3/4 cup for grades K-8 daily; 1 cup for grades 9-12 daily. All grades require selections from five different subgroups (dark-green leafy, red/orange, beans/legumes, starchy, other) to meet this component. 
5. Fluid Milk: Minimum 8 oz. for grades K-12 daily.

Several different choices of entrée are offered each day in all cafeterias. Choices may include the published "menu" entrée, a variety of hot and cold sandwiches, salads and yogurt meals. Each entrée combines the meat and grain components. Several choices of fruit and vegetables are offered daily. Fat free milk is offered in chocolate and white flavors. A la carte entrees, snacks, bottled water and juices, approved by the Federal Smart Snack Regulations, are available for sale a la carte.

*Some items served/prepared in our kitchens may contain peanuts or tree nuts or may be made in a factory that processes products containing peanuts or tree nuts.

All breakfast and lunch menus as well as nutrition information can be found on our website. Note: Menus are subject to change with little or no notice due to availability of product.