Did you know that students who are well-nourished are shown to have increased problem-solving abilities, memory, verbal fluency and creativity? Still, the challenge is to make nutritious foods that kids will actually eat! Variety and choice are key these days.
And at just $2.35 for elementary and intermediate students and $2.60 for middle and high school students, Goshen's school lunches are clearly one of the best deals around! We serve over 1,500 lunches per day, with more than 60 percent of our students selecting a complete lunch meal.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions and learn all there is to know about our Food Services Program. Happy reading!
Just how healthy are school meals?
What is the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act?
What are the prices for school meals?
Can students pre-pay for meals?
What if we can’t afford school meals?
How can I find out what's for lunch each day?
Why does an adult get charged $4.10 for lunch?
Is eating a good breakfast really important?
Why should I be concerned with my child’s eating habits?
How do you make school meals more appealing to kids?
What if my child has special dietary needs?
How much does this program add to my school tax bill?
Who can I contact for more information?
Just how healthy are
school meals?
School lunches provide one-third of the recommended dietary intake
for calories, protein and vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. On
average a meal contains less than 30 percent of calories from fat
and less than 10 percent from saturated fat. In recent years Goshen
has increased the use of whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
All cooked products are either baked or steamed; nothing is fried.
What is the
Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act?
For the first time in nearly two decades, the federal government
has issued new nutrition standards for meals served to America’s
schoolchildren, based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This
change is part of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, championed by First
Lady Michelle Obama as part of her Let’s Move! health and wellness
campaign – a program designed to combat childhood obesity.
What are the prices
for school meals?
Breakfast is only $1.50 for all students in grades K-12. For
Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School and Goshen Intermediate School
students, lunch costs $2.35. Middle and High School students may
purchase lunch for $2.60.
How do
you pay for meals?
Parents may pay by cash or check made payable to Goshen Cafeteria
Fund. You may write one check for multiple students attending the
SAME school –- attach a note explaining how you would like the check
distributed and the students’ pin numbers. The cash stays with the
student's account for as long as he/she is in the school district.
Can students pre-pay for meals?
All accounts are cash accounts. Students may use their cash account
to purchase breakfast, lunch or a la carte items where available.
What if we can’t
afford school meals?
Students may be eligible for free or reduced price lunches if their
families meet federal guidelines. The application only takes a
minute to fill out and can be done at any time during the school
year. Fill out the application and return it to Food Services, the
school nurse or the front office.
Free and reduced lunch - English*
Free and reduced lunch - Spanish*
How can I find
out what's for lunch each day?
The breakfast and lunch menus are posted online! To view your
child's school menu, go to that school's homepage and click on
"What's for Lunch" on the left-hand navigation rail. You can also
access them here:
Why does an
adult get charged $4.10 for lunch?
Our district participates in the USDA’s Child Nutrition Programs.
Through these programs, we receive state and federal funding. The
subsidies that we receive may only be used towards the cost of meals
provided to the students. Based on this, the cost of an adult meal
must include all expenses incurred, including: food, supplies,
equipment, staff, etc. The Food Service Department is financially
independent of the district’s budget.
Is eating a
good breakfast really important?
A hungry child cannot learn. Our breakfast program offers all
children a critical jump start at the beginning of their school day.
Children who aren’t hungry feel better, learn better, and behave
better. The State of Minnesota Breakfast Study (1997) found that
students who ate breakfast had a general increase in math grades and
reading scores, increased student attention, reduced nurse visits,
and improved student behaviors.
Learn more about the importance of a
good breakfast from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
Why should I be concerned with my child’s eating habits?
Children’s nutrition is no small issue. There is no better time than
the early years to make an impact on the lifelong eating and
exercise habits that can contribute to health maintenance and
disease prevention. Medical authorities and nutrition researchers
have documented that meeting nutritional requirements throughout
childhood is essential to full intellectual development. Recent
research provides compelling evidence that nutrition impacts a
child's behavior, school performance, and overall cognitive
development (Tufts University Statement, 1998).
How do
you make school meals more appealing to kids?
The Food Services Program keeps a close eye on meal counts and
student feedback to determine what the students want to eat.
Students also now have more variety to choose from.
What if my
child has special dietary needs?
Goshen will accommodate dietary needs upon receipt of a doctor’s
prescription. We encourage all children -- especially those with
special nutritional needs (such as diabetes, food allergies, etc.)
-- to learn how to make their own educated choices about the foods
they eat since this is a skill that will serve them well throughout
their lives.
How much does
this program add to my school tax bill?
Nothing! Goshen's Food Service Program is entirely self supporting.
Who can I contact
for more information?
For more information, please contact the Food Service Department
Director Denise Billings at 615-6491.