Our Café

Lunch Schedule

Grade	Lunch Time
Kindergarten	11:30
1st Grade	11:35
2nd Grade	11:25
3rd Grade	11:45
4th Grade	11:45
5th Grade	12:00 noon
6th Grade	12:00 noon
7th Grade	12:10
8th Grade	12:10

We are a Team Nutrition School

To help support the implementation of the School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children, the USDA created Team Nutrition, charged with the mission of improving the health and education of children.

Team Nutrition has three implementation strategies:

• Healthy School meals that meet student expectations.
• Nutrition Education that is fun and focussed on behavior.
• Support from school administrators, parents and other community leaders.

All program materials encourage students to make food and physical activity choices for a healthy lifestyle. They focus on four behavior outcomes:

• Eat a variety of foods.
• Eat more fruits, vegetables and grains.
• Eat lower fat foods more often.
• Be physically active.

Meals served on the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) must meet the following nutrition goals established by USDA in order to qualify for reimbursement:

• Lunch meals must meet 1/3 of the RDA for protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.
• Meals must meet age appropriate calorie goals.
• Meals must meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which include:
  • 30% or less of calories from fat.
  • 10% or less of calories from saturated fat.
  • decrease in sodium.
  • decrease in cholesterol.
  • increase in fiber.
  • increase in carbohydrates.

Wellness Policy

The link between nutrition and learning is well documented. Healthy eating patterns are essential for students to acheive their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth and lifelong health and well-being. The Catholic schools of the Diocese of Phoenix are committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children's health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. Healthy eating is demonstrably linked to reduced risk for both mortality and development of many chronic diseases as adults.

All schools throughout the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix have adopted a Student Wellness Policy. The purpose of this policy is to offer the students the tools and knowledge necessary to make healthy choices for their body and soul. This policy has nine components:

• Commitment to nutrition and physical activity.
• Quality school meals.
• Healthy food options.
• Pleasant eating experiences.
• Nutrition education.
• Marketing.
• Physical education.
• Encouraging lifetime physical activity.
• Implementation.

On-Campus Food Guidelines

The following guidelines are an effort to comply with Maricopa County Health Code and with the United States Department Of Agriculture (USDA) federal guidelines, And the Arizona Nutrition Standards as set forth by Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs. Arizona Revised Statue 15-242 mandates all Kindergarten through eighth grade schools follow the Arizona Nutrition Standards.

Specific Prohibited Foods and Beverages on Campus

Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value as defined by 7 CFR 210.11(2) are prohibited from being served during the school day. Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value as defined by USDA include carbonated beverages, water ices, chewing gum, hard candies, jellies and gums, marshmallow candies, fondant, licorice, spun candy, and candy coated popcorn.

Prohibited Foods and Cooking Methods

• All deep-fat fried chips and crackers sold or served as a non NSLP menu item.
• Final preparation can not be fat fried.

Prohibited Beverages

• Fruit / vegetable drinks containing less than 100% juice for Elementary Schools
• Whole fat milk (4% milk fat); flavored or regular caffeine/ energy drinks
• Sports drinks, electrolyte-replacement drinks for Elementary Schools
• Carbonated beverages

Classroom Parties

Celebrations will be limited to three per year: Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Last Day of School. In lieu of birthday snacks, individual student birthdays will be celebrated with a free dress day. If you would like, you may bring in a non food item for the class such as pencils or stickers. No exceptions. During the designated celebrations Minimal Nutritional Value Foods may be served providing they meet Maricopa County guidelines.

There are mandatory safety guidelines regarding food and beverages for classroom parties established by Maricopa County. The County has strict regulations about food being prepared in residential kitchens and served at classroom parties. It is not allowed. All food brought onto campuses for classroom parties must originate from certified kitchens, commercial institutions or commercial food service stores.

The following guidelines will assist in this process:

• All foods offered must originate from a Maricopa County Health Department approved kitchen or institution. Examples would be products prepared at a supermarket bakery, retail location or from a commercial restaurant. For example, cupcakes prepared at home are not an approved item for a classroom party.
• All food offered is delivered at the proper temperature and non-wrapped food is served with a non-latex gloved hand or utensil. Example would be a pizza party from an approved vendor which is served by a gloved-hand or with a serving utensil.
• All food offered is being consumed within a reasonable time and is maintained at a proper temperature.
• No contact is to be made by a non-gloved hand with any food items that are not pre-wrapped.