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Nutrition Services

Community Eligibility Provision | Pathways K8 Approved for 2022/2023 School Year
 
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program was implemented by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This program allows high-needs schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students enrolled. Pathways K8 has the ability to participate in the CEP program with the help and support of our families by completing the Free and Reduced Meals Application, through Direct Certification from public agencies, or by completing the Income Data Collection Forms. When our families complete these documents yearly, that allows us to report our percentage of need, which in turn makes Pathways K8 eligible for participation in this program.
 
For more information on the CEP program, please visit: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/cep.asp
 
Please find the 2023/2024 Letter to Households for Community Eligibility Provision Notice below:
General Information
 
The Nutrition Services Department is dedicated to student health and well-being. We support learning and academic achievement by promoting a healthier school environment with access to appealing foods that meet the health needs of our students.
 

We proudly serve:

  • 100 % whole grain-rich items
  • Fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables
  • Farm-to-School produce
  • Low-fat and fat-free milk
  • 100% fruit and/or vegetable juices 

All school meals follow the nutrition guidelines under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

FOOD ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE

Special meal accommodations can be provided for children with food allergies or intolerance. USDA regulations require schools to make substitutions or modifications at breakfast and lunch for children whose disabilities restrict their diets. An individual with a disability is defined as "any person who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities."

If your child requires a meal accommodation, a form must be completed by a parent and/or guardian and turned back into the Front Office immediately. This form can be found in the Enrollment and Re-Enrollment packets parents fill out each year. If anything changes please update this form and turn it in immediately.

Don't forget to view our Healthy Snacks Guide to get ideas about healthy snack choices for your students!

We are looking forward to a wonderful year of healthy meals and happy students!

Thank you,

PTC Nutrition Services Department

Healthy Snacks Guide
 
Students in our school are offered healthier school meals with more fruits, vegetables and whole grains through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. The Smart Snacks in School standards published by the USDA will build on those healthy advancements by ensuring that all other snack foods and beverages available for sale to students in school are tasty and nutritious.
 
Nutrition Standards for Foods

Any food sold in school must:

  • Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or
  • Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product or a protein food; or
  • Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or
  • Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber)

Foods must also meet several nutrient requirements:

Calorie limits

  • Snack items - Elementary Schools: ≤ 175 calories
  • Snack items - Middle & High Schools: ≤ 200 calories
  • Entrée items: ≤ 350 calories

Sodium limits

  • Snack items: ≤ 200 mg
  • Entrée items: ≤ 480 mg

Fat limits

  • Total fat: ≤ 35% of calories
  • Saturated fat: ≤ 10% of calories
  • Trans fat: zero grams

Sugar limit ≤ 35% of weight from total sugars in foods

Accompaniments

Accompaniments such as cream cheese, salad dressing and butter must be included in the nutrient profile as part of the food item sold. This helps control the amount of calories, fat, sugar and sodium added to foods.

 

Nutrient Standards for Beverages

Schools may sell:

  • Plain water (with or without carbonation)
  • Unflavored low fat milk
  • Unflavored or flavored fat free milk and milk alternatives permitted by NSLP/SBP
  • 100% fruit or vegetable juice, and 100% fruit or vegetable juice diluted with water (with or without carbonation) and no added sweeteners

Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions, while middle and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions of milk and juice. There is no portion size limit for plain water.

Beyond this, the standards allow additional “no calorie” and “lower calorie” beverage options for high school students.

  • No more than 20-ounce portions of calorie-free, flavored water (with or without carbonation); and other flavored and/or carbonated beverages that are labeled to contain < 5 calories per 8 fluid ounces or ≤ 10 calories per 20 fluid ounces.
  • No more than 12-ounce portions of beverage with ≤ 40 calories per 8 fluid ounces, or ≤ 60 calories per 12 fluid ounces. Healthy Fundraisers
  • Food items that meet nutrition standards are not limited
  • The standards do not apply during non-school hours, on weekends and at off-campus fundraising events
  • The standards provide a special exemption for infrequent fundraisers that do not meet the nutrition standards. Each State agency is responsible for establishing the number of exempt fundraisers that may be held in schools each year.

Kids in the KitchenKids in the Kitchen
There are plenty of fun ways to liven up snack time using healthy fruits, vegetables and cheeses. Kids will love creating and eating fun-to-make snacks with you in the kitchen! Click on the image to the right to watch a video to learn about some fun and healthy snack ideas that you can make with your kids in the kitchen.

Snacking Tips for Parents

  • Plan ahead and buy healthy snacks when you shop. You will save money and make healthier choices than if you or your kids are buying snacks on the go.
  • Provide kids with choices and make those choices nutritious.
  • Pre-portion you child's snacks into small plastic bags to grab on the go.
  • Combine snacks from at least two food groups to pack more nutrients into your child's diet... it will be more filling and it will hold them over to the next meal.
  • And remember... space snacks far enough between meals so appetites are not spoiled!

Two Simple Steps to Delicious and Nutritious Snacks
Katie-Jeffery-Lunn, MS, RD, CDN, LDN
Healthy, Fun Snacks and Desserts for the Whole Family
Reyna Franco, MS, RD, CDN
Healthy, Tasty and Creative Snacks for Kids
Katie-Jeffery-Lunn, MS, RD, CDN, LDN

Visit MealsMatter.org for more snack ideas.