Expanded Food Choices for Westport Students

Below is the letter we just received from Westport Public Schools on food service for the 2014-15 school year.

The healthful food offerings look good, and the new food stations at Staples bring increased variety. In addition, all middle school students will be able to enjoy a complete breakfast for only $1.95.

Chartwells, the food service provider, is also introducing Simply Good, a new program to educate students on the benefits of good nutrition.

Finally, Staples will not participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) for the 2014-15 school year, to allow for greater flexibility and reduce food waste. We're not sure if this will also allow the school to continue serving coffee to students, but for the students' sake, we hope it will.

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Dear Westport School District Students, Parents, and School Community,

As we begin the 2014-15 school year, Chartwells School Dining Services would like to welcome you and our students back to school and update you on our menu planning strategies for the school year.

Expanded Food Choices
Chartwells remains committed to serving nutritious breakfast and lunch meals to students in the 2014-15 school year. The following menu planning strategies will be implemented across all Westport schools:
• An abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables will be made available daily.
• Low-fat white, skim white and skim chocolate milk will be offered daily.
• Flavorful entrees utilizing lean beef, chicken, turkey, low-fat cheese, or beans will be served on a regular basis.
• All grains offered in the school cafeteria will be whole grain.

For our high school students, we understand their more sophisticated pallets, so we've planned appropriate enhancements to meet their needs. We are very excited to be featuring several new food stations such as a So Deli delicious!, 2mato, Create, Grill'd, and a special Outtakes station. Be sure to see menus for details on these delicious offerings. Please note that our $2.80 complete lunch meal is still available at all of our concept stations. In addition, we are offering daily a la carte specials that are priced between $3.75 and $6.00 on average.

Chartwells is excited to offer breakfast for all Westport middle school students. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day for all of us, especially students. Not only does it provide us the energy to start a new day, but breakfast is also linked to many health benefits and improved behaviors including: higher academic scores, better classroom conduct, and reduced tardiness. Our middle schools will participate in the National School Breakfast Program (NSBP) this year. This new comprehensive program offers enticing breakfast items including breakfast sandwiches served on whole grain bread products and assorted whole grain cereals and muffins. Our $1.95 complete breakfast meal now comes with a choice of fresh fruit and fat free or low fat milk.

The Westport Board of Education has decided to remove the high school from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) for the 2014-15 school year. This change will give us more flexibility in food portioning and offerings for our students and reduce food waste. This change will not affect any of the wellness and nutrition initiatives we have embarked upon and it will not affect the free and reduced mealtime program for eligible students.

Nutrition Education
Chartwells is pleased to introduce our new Simply Good program, a year-long schedule of special events that are intended to encourage students to select complete, well-balanced meals. The Simply Good program continues to have a culinary emphasis that focuses on healthier meal options, especially ones with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Should you have additional questions, please visit our district website at www.westport.k12.ct.us. 

Thank you. We look forward to a successful year!

Frank Rupp                                          Aliza Stern, RD
Director of Dining Services                    Resident Dietitian
FRupp@westport.k12.ct.us                    Aliza.Stern2@compass-usa.com 
203-341-2431                                      860-391-9205

W
Submitted by Westport, CT

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