FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Is my child getting the nutrients he/she needs from school meals?
Yes. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has a registered dietitian on staff to plan all school meal menus. We follow nutritional guidelines set by the government, and analyze meals to ensure compliance with nutritional requirements. In addition, meals are developed in the pattern of the Food Guide Pyramid, thus ensuring recommended serving portions.

Is there a link between good eating habits and student performance in school?
Numerous studies indicate that the answer is a resounding “yes.” According to these studies, children who eat healthy meals (breakfasts and lunches) score higher on tests, have better attendance, make fewer trips to school nurses, and have fewer discipline problems. School meals play a critical role, as they provide students with the healthiest lowest-cost, most nutritionally-balanced meals available. And, the fact that they are served in the school cafeteria makes them convenient, too!

What is the GCISD Nutrition Services staff doing to decrease fat and sugar in school menus?
As much as possible, students are served foods rich in nutrients and with decreased sugar, sodium and fat.

• Vegetables are prepared with a butterbuds and Mrs. Dash seasonings.
• Foods for elementary students are baked and not fried.
• Low fat 1 percent milk is offered at all schools
• Added Good 4 U! Entrees twice a week (these entree that have 30 percent or less calories from fat)
• Revised the baked potato and chef salad recipes to reflect 30 percent or less calories from fat
• Increased the serving size of fruits and vegetables in the elementary schools to encourage the consumption of more fruits and vegetables

Are classroom birthday celebrations allowed?
TDA recognizes that celebrating student birthdays with a classroom party is a time-honored tradition that provides the opportunity for parental involvement in the education of their children, which is beneficial for students, parents and teachers. Foods otherwise restricted by the policy are permitted in classroom student birthday parties. It is recommended such parties be scheduled after the end of lunch period for the class so that these celebrations will not replace a nutritious lunch. Federal regulations do not permit foods of minimal nutritional value to be served in the food service area during meal periods.

Classroom birthday celebrations may not be served in the cafeteria where meals from the Nutrition Services Department are being served and consumed. Birthday celebrations must take place in the classroom or in the cafeteria after all meals have been served.

Why is the adult charge higher than the student charge?
The intent of the National School Lunch Program is to provide nutritious and low cost meals to children. Since this program is for children, there is no federal assistance for meals served to adults. Therefore, the adult meal charge has to be at least a combination of the basic reimbursement rate plus the guaranteed value of USDA commodities (per plate) and higher than the highest charge to the child in the school district. An adult should receive the same size meal as that of a secondary student for the established charge.

What is "Offer vs. Serve"
"Offer versus Serve" is a federal regulation designed to reduce food waste in the lunch program by allowing students to choose only those foods, which they will intend to eat. Senior high schools participating in the National School Lunch Program are required to implement offer vs. serve. However, offer vs. serve is a local option in elementary and junior high school.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has opted to extend offer vs. serve to include the elementary and middle schools. The five components of the meal include:

• meat or meat alternate
• fruit
• vegetable
• bread or bread alternate
• milk.

As long as the student takes three of the five items, the meal will be counted as a reimburseable meal.

How do I find out if my child/children qualifies for free/reduced price meals?
A parent or guardian must first complete an application for free/reduced price meal benefits. Applications are available on our Website, Nutrition Services, and at every GCISD campus. Once the application is received by Nutrition Services, they have 10 operating days to process it. The parent/guardian will be informed by letter as to whether or not their child/children qualifies. A new free/reduced application must be filled out each year. The application must have an original signature - faxed applications will not be accepted.

Read more about Free and Reduced Price Meals...

Can I restrict my child's purchase of snack foods?
You may fill out a snack restriction form which will specify how many snacks your child may purchase, what type of snacks and when they may be purchased. For elementary students, the snack form is provided in the school calendar menu. The form is kept on file for the school year. If allergies require us to substitute a meal item, the snack restriction form must be accompanied by a note from a health care provider. Download the form (Adobe Acrobat format) and find out more about snack foods...

How do I purchase meals for my child?
Each school’s cafeteria manager accepts deposits of cash or checks or you may prepay online by credit card. If paying by check, please write your student’s name and student ID number in the memo section of the check. Deposits can be made before school, during breakfast, or during lunch.

How can I check the balance of my child’s account?
Student account balances may be checked online. You may also email or call the school’s cafeteria manager.

What happens to the money in my child’s account at the end of the school year or if my child transfers to another GCISD school?
Money left in an account at the end of a year will be available for that student’s use in the next school year at any school within the district. A negative balance will also carry over to the next school year or school.

Does my child have to purchase an entire meal?
Students who receive free/reduced meal benefits, or who pay for a reimbursable meal must take at least three (3) of five (5) items (called components) served. For optimum nutrition, we strongly recommend that students take all available meal items. Furthermore, a reimbursable meal (breakfast or lunch) is much less expensive than the same items purchased ala Carte, so students who get the complete meal are smart shoppers, too! Any student is allowed to purchase just the entrée, or just side dishes, on an ala Carte basis.

Why can't teachers tell my elementary child what to select at lunch?
We receive federal funding for the school lunch program and the Federal Goverment requires that students select foods according to our menu plan. If the child does not select a reimbursable meal, the school district does not receive funding for any portion of the meal. Staff members cannot suggest items or make changes to student selections because it could be perceived as directing students to take specific foods to increase our federal funding.

It seems that kids sometimes throw away a lot of the food they buy?
We encourage students to take all meal items offered. Under the Offer vs Serve Program program, students have the independence to select, within guidelines, what they want to eat, resulting in less waste and increased customer satisfaction.

What should I do if my child requires special diet modifications?
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD’s Nutrition Services Department has a registered dietitian on staff to work with special dietary needs. A statement signed by a licensed physician, a physician assistant, or another recognized medical authority must support requests for special diet modifications. The signed statement must be provided to the school nurse, who will forward it to the school’s cafeteria manager, who will send it to the Nutrition Services Department. Meal pricing is not affected by dietary modifications.

Some times I think that portions are too large, or are too small. Who sets the size of portions?
The government sets the size of portions. Servings are designed to be in accordance with the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, and are set at age-appropriate calorie levels. Older children (i.e. high school age) receive larger portions than younger children.

How are the menus organized? Who sets them?
Our menus are organized on a six to eight-week cycle. This means that the menus (generally) repeat every six to eight weeks. The schools use a six to eight-week cycle because it allows maximum flexibility and limits our overall inventory levels. This cycle allows us to incorporate changing students tastes, introduce new items, and evaluate participation rates.

Menus are set during the summer of each year by reviewing student-parent surveys and meal participation, and reviewing new product availability. Through this process, Nutrition Services staff ensures that a variety of food choices will be offered to students and staff.

Child Nutrition provides a school calendar menu for every elementary student at the beginning of the school year. The Snack Form is included in this.

For secondary students, Child Nutrition provides a menu for every student at the beginning of the school year.

How long does it take for money to be credited to my child's mynutrikid.com account?
After the initial sign-up and registration of a child, it takes the system up to 24 hours to refresh the transaction report.