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Child Nutrition

School Lunch Information


Temecula Fresh Food
      

The Nutrition Services department is made up of a team of food and nutrition professionals that are dedicated to students' health, well-being, and ability to learn.  We support learning by promoting healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and fitness practices.

Meals, foods, and beverages sold or served at schools meet state and federal requirements which are based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines.  We provide students with access to a variety of affordable and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students. 

Nutrition Services Website - additional resources and monthly menus. 

Paloma Panthers are Healthy . . . even during birthday and classroom celebrations!

HEALTHY WELLNESS POLICY

Here at Paloma, we love to recognize our students for a job well done and we love to celebrate all of life’s special moments.  However, we also need to remember to keep a healthy lifestyle in our minds during those moments. We have a responsibility to provide our students with knowledge beyond the classroom which includes how to make healthy choices when we eat.  

We continue to partner with our PTA to make a conscious effort to improve the choices we make when we host these celebrations.  The celebrations are important and those will remain, but how we celebrate them will continue to shift. Please join us in this endeavour by adhering to the guidelines below.

 

ALL CELEBRATIONS MUST FOLLOW HEALTHY FOOD GUIDELINES

  • All food served at school, by our Child Nutrition Department, must meet the standards below.
  • All food provided or offered at school must meet the standards below.
  • This policy applies to all celebrations, classroom parties, grade level picnics, grade level events, etc. where food or beverages are offered to students.

 

FOOD/SNACK STANDARDS:

  • Not more than 35% of its total calories shall be from fat.
  • Not more than 10% of its total calories shall be from saturated fat.
  • Not more than 35% of its total weight shall be composed of sugar, including naturally occurring and added sugar.
  • Exemptions are nuts, nut butters, seeds, cheese packaged for individual sale, fruits and vegetables that have not been deep fried, and legumes.

BEVERAGE STANDARDS:

  • Fruit-based and vegetable-based drinks that are at least 50% fruit juice without added sweeteners.
  • Drinking water without added sweeteners.
  • Milk products including 2%, 1%, nonfat, soy, rice and other similar non-dairy milk.
  • An electrolyte replacement beverage that contains no more than 42 grams of added sweetener per 20-oz. serving.

Items offered to students must be commercially prepared and packaged, and stable at room temperature, unless proper cold/hot temperatures can be maintained.

All food products brought into the school for celebrations MUST be store-bought and in the original packaging with the nutrition label intact.  Any item brought into school that does not meet these guidelines will be returned to you. It will not be sent home with students or passed out after the bell has rung.

Eating healthy promotes student success!  Thank you so much for your support.

Birthday Treats

We know birthdays are special days and worthy of celebration!  We are excited to celebrate with your child.  :)

If you choose to send in something to school for your child to share with their classmates, please know that any food item must meet the nutritional guidelines established by the state.  You may find suggestions for food items as well as a link to the nutrition calculator here:  Birthday Snack list  Unfortunately, we cannot allow any treats to be distributed to students that do not meet nutritional guidlines.

We do encourage, however, that you consider sending non-food items to school for your child to share.  There are many students with food allergies that must be considered and non-food items allow ALL students to participate in the celebration. Items such as pencils, note pads, etc. are welcomed.  For additional ideas, please consider the information in the following district publication.  Classroom Celebration Guidelines .

Additionally, we do not accept deliveries for students at school.  Should you wish to surprise your student with balloons or flowers, please do so at home.  These items are a distraction to the learning environment and will not be delivered to students in their classrooms. 

Thank you in advance for celebrating your child with us for their birthday according to the district guidelines.