The Child Nutrition Program is committed to serving our children nutritious and appealing meals that meet the dietary guidelines. These meals are served to students, staff, and visitors of the schools in a positive, cheerful manner. We pride ourselves on contributing to the quality and excellence of a student’s educational experience.

By providing a variety of foods, schools are able to accommodate many student preferences for non-disability reasons (e.g., food preferences for religious reasons or a child’s vegetarianism). General health concerns, such as a preference that a child eat a gluten-free diet because it is believed to be a healthier option, are not disabilities. We understand that children with diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or food allergies have special dietary needs and working together with the school nurse and parents/guardians, we will make reasonable accommodations for those needs. A Diet Prescription for Meals at School is required so that safe meals can be provided. If a student has a disability or life threatening food allergy that requires meals to be served that do not meet Program meal requirements, a Diet Prescription for Meals at School must be completed and signed by a physician or any person authorized to write a medical prescription under State law.

The Diet Prescription for Meals at School must include the following:

1. Information about the child’s physical or mental impairment that is sufficient to allow the school to understand how it restricts the child’s diet;

2. Explanation of what must be done to accommodate the child; and

3. Food or foods to be omitted and recommended alternatives, if appropriate.

The Diet Prescription for Meals at School and other pertinent information provided by parents/guardians must be kept on file in the CNP manager’s office and may be provided to other appropriate school personnel.

Diet orders must be updated as needed to reflect the current dietary needs of the child. If a child no longer needs a meal modification, it is recommended that the parent/guardian sign a statement indicating that their child no longer needs the modification before the Child Nutrition Program will end the modification.

• Diet Prescription for Meals at School / Receta de Dieta para las Comidas en la Escuela

• Accommodating Special Dietary Needs Flow Chart