Special Diet and Meal Accommodations

We are proud to provide students and parents with information that will allow our students to make educated choices regarding their school meals. If your child requires a special diet or meal accommodation, follow the instructions below. Allergens can be seen on our online menus by hovering over the menu item. Please be aware that any nutritional and allergen information provided is based on information from manufacturers and school-based recipes. The Nutrition Services department is not liable for inaccuracies on product labels. Ingredients and menu items are subject to change or substitution without notice.

FOOD ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE

Special meal accommodations can be provided for children with food allergies or intolerances. 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 Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations form must be completed by a licensed healthcare professional. The California Department of Education only permits licensed physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners to complete this form. Medical Statements completed by nurses, parents, or guardians will not be accepted. If we do not receive a Medical Statement from a licensed healthcare professional, your child will receive a regular breakfast or lunch.

Medical Statements must:

• Describe the physical or mental impairment sufficiently in order for the Nutrition Services department to understand how it restricts a child’s diet

• Explain what must be done to accommodate a child’s disability

• Identify food(s) to be omitted from a child’s diet

• Recommend food(s) that must be substituted in a child’s meals

TO SUBMIT a completed Medical Statement, turn it into one of the following locations:

• School Site: Turn in a copy to the School Nurse or Cafeteria Lead at your child’s school

• Nutrition Services Office: Send a copy to Nutrition Services

  • Drop Off Address: 16955 Lemon St. Hesperia, CA 92345

  • Fax: (760)956-3338 (Please call our office at (760)949-2036 to verify that the fax went through.)

FLUID MILK SUBSTITUTIONS

Parents and legal guardians may request a fluid milk substitution if their child has a medical or other special dietary need. This applies only for fluid milk and will not cover other dairy products like yogurt and cheese. (If a child cannot eat dairy products like cheese, then a licensed healthcare professional needs to complete a Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations form (see above).)

If a parent or guardian would like to request a fluid milk substitution for their child, complete a Parental Request for Fluid Milk Substitution form making sure to list the medical or special dietary need.

TO SUBMIT a completed Parental Request for Fluid Milk Substitution form, turn it into one of the following locations:

• School Site: Turn in a copy to the School Nurse or Cafeteria Lead at your child’s school

• Nutrition Services Office: Send a copy to Nutrition Services

  • Drop Off Address: 16955 Lemon St. Hesperia, CA 92345

  • Fax: (760)956-3338  (Please call our office at (760)949-2036 to verify that the fax went through.)

FOOD AND RELIGIOUS PREFERENCES
Food preferences and religious preferences are not considered a disability so they are not required to be accommodated. For example, a preference that a child eat a gluten-free diet because a parent believes it is better for the child, does not constitute a disability and will not be accommodated. However, our cafeterias use “Offer vs Serve” which allows students to choose what they want to eat amongst the available options. For instance, if your elementary child is vegetarian and the menu has Hamburgers and Cheese Pizza, your child is free to choose Cheese Pizza and/or build a salad at the salad bar.

 

IMPORTANT FORMS - Click on the links below

Medical Statement to Request Special Meals (Rev 08-2017)

Parental Request for Fluid Milk Substitution (Rev 04-2016)