GROTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HOT LUNCH PROGRAM
Have you heard or seen the news about Healthy Changes in Our School Cafeterias? The Groton Public Schools Hot Lunch Program is meeting tough new federal nutrition standards for school meals, ensuring that meals are healthy, well-balanced and provide students all the nutrition they need to succeed at school. Now is a great time to encourage your kids to choose school lunch! The National School Lunch Program is available at all schools in the district, and breakfast is available in six schools at the present time, hopefully in all schools by mid-year, “hungry kids can’t learn”, so enjoy a balanced meal!
In school year 2012-13, school meals offer students low fat or fat free milk, fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains, and must meet strict limits on saturated fat and portion size; plus school lunches will follow additional standards requiring:
· age-appropriate calorie limits;
· larger servings of vegetables and fruits (students must take at least one serving of produce);
· a wider variety of vegetables, including dark green and red/orange vegetables and legumes;
· fat free to 1% plain milk, or fat-free flavored calcium rich milk;
· more whole grains; and
· less sodium.
We are always working to offer our students, as well as staff and parent customers, healthier and tasty choices including chef salads in all schools, a variety of locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables which can be provided by USDA and local vendors will be provided on a daily basis as parts of the meal options. Our goal in the Food Service Department is to provide a basis from which students can develop a healthy lifestyle and eating habits for their future.
School meals are a great value and a huge convenience for busy families too! Customers may prepay online at www.mypaymentsplus.com or 1-877-634-9603, all customers are identified by their student I.D. number and name on a computerized system, account information is confidential yet available to each parent on line for free. Parents & students may also prepay by cash or check. Money in the “general account” enables meals, milk, or extra servings to be purchased, and at the high school state approved snacks can be purchased. Parents may put money in a “Meal Only Account”, or add to both accounts so their child never goes hungry and may buy extra milk ($.50) anytime. Lunch is $2.35 in all our elementary schools, breakfast is $1.00; Middle School and High School lunch is $2.65, breakfast is $1.00. Parents are responsible for paying for their child’s food purchases. Please prepay to make the line move fast!
Groton Public Schools menus are on the district web site www.groton.k12.ct.us . You also may go to www.choose myplate.gov and get the facts about school meals visit www.TrayTalk.org. We appreciate your support!
Ernie Koschmieder, Groton Public Schools Food Service Director, ekoschmieder@groton.k12.ct.us.
