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Special Food Needs

Meals for students with disabilities and allergies

Nutritional Data 

  • notes nutrition information and ingredients for each menu item.

  • Our Ingredient Database lists ingredients for menu items.

  • Carbohydrate database check carbohydrate counts for menu and ala carte items. (Excel version) 

  • Gluten-free items listing

Disabilities

We modify meals for students with disabilities who are unable to consume meals offered to students who are not disabled. Completing and returning the completed Meal Modification form to the PSD Child Nutrition Office or your student's health office, is an important step for the development of safe meal modifications for your child. Determinations on if a student has a disability that restricts his or her diet are to be made by a licensed physician. Adjusted meals cost the same as regular meals. The school, school nurse, family, student, and physician will work together to best meet the student's needs.  For questions, please contact PSD Nutrition Coordinator Becky Wiggins, rwiggins@psdschools.org.

To apply for a medical disability alternative, please fill out this Medical Statement for Dietary Disability Form.  (Spanish - Medical statement for dietary disability form)

To request a discontinuation of meal modifications, please fill out and return the Discontinuation of Site Meal Modifications Form to your student's school (Spanish form for Discontinuation of Meal Modifications).  Meal Modification forms may take up to 10 days to be processed.

Allergies

The school, family, and student will work together to provide a safe environment for students with food allergies.

Family's responsibility:

  • Notify the Child Nutrition Office and the school of the child's allergies.
  • Work with the school team to develop a plan that accommodates the child's needs.
  • Provide written medical documentation, instructions and medications as directed by a physician. Include a photo of the child with this information.
  • Provide properly labeled medications and replace medications after use or upon expiration.
  • Educate the child in the management of their food allergy including:
    • Safe and unsafe foods
    • Strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods
    • Symptoms of allergic reactions
    • How and when to tell an adult they may be having an allergy-related problem
    • How to read food labels
    • Review policies/procedures with the school staff, the child's physician, and the child after a reaction has occurred
    • Provide emergency contact information

Student's responsibility:

  • Should not trade food with others.
  • Should not eat anything with unknown ingredients or known to contain any allergen.
  • Should be proactive in the management of their food allergies and reactions if possible.
  • Should notify an adult immediately if they eat something they believe may contain the food to which they are allergic.

(Source: Colorado Department of Education, Child Nutrition Programs, Administrator's Reference Manual)

Special Diet Request Guidelines

Non-discrimination Statement: In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: , from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA.  The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. 

The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.