On October 1 folks who hadn't sent in applications for the 2007/2008 school year were changed from free or reduced to full paying students. We must have a new application every year to continue the benefit to your student. If you have not sent an application in this year and would like to, just go back to the main food service web page and download a copy. Return it to any school office and they will forward it on to me. Or you can call 616-794-4937 or 616 794-4994 and we will send one to you in the mail.
This is also the time of year when the application verification starts. Some of you (12 families total) have received a letter asking for income verification. Once this process is over the basic application process is finally over for us. You are always able to fill out applications throughout the year but things slow down considerably for us once december rolls around.
At the beginning of this year we installed new touch screens at our cashier's computers throughout the district. This has shortened the time your student has had to stand in line and given them more time to enjoy their lunch. We are always searching for ways to 'speed up the line' so if you have any suggestions please let us know.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
October 1-5
September and October are very busy months for us here in food service. We are trying out new recipes, menus, and foods; entering all the information for free/reduced applications; ensuring all the students have account numbers; ensuring we are in compliance with state, federal and county officials; and on and on.
We are most excited about the fresh vegetables and fruits we are making available to students and new recipes that have less fat and sugar in them. Our hope is that your students have an enjoyable and healthy experience in BAS cafeterias.
We are most excited about the fresh vegetables and fruits we are making available to students and new recipes that have less fat and sugar in them. Our hope is that your students have an enjoyable and healthy experience in BAS cafeterias.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
September 4th-8th
Welcome back students and parents! We are looking forward to another great year. As always, we hope to provide your children with the most nutritious lunch possible at a reasonable price. This year we will be featuring our balanced choice lunches and breakfasts again, along with fresher vegetables and fruit.
Look for free and reduced applications coming home with your child soon. If you did not receive one and would like one please contact me at 616-794-4937. And as always I can be contacted for any of your questions or input.
Look for free and reduced applications coming home with your child soon. If you did not receive one and would like one please contact me at 616-794-4937. And as always I can be contacted for any of your questions or input.
Monday, May 14, 2007
May 14-18
This is the last full week for seniors! Just a reminder to senior parents that to graduate your childs acounts must be paid in full for them to receive their cap and gown. Not only do the seniors have the end of their school careers to look forward to, but they also are treated to a steak dinner on the 23rd.
For the rest of us we have just two full weeks left of school!
For the rest of us we have just two full weeks left of school!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
May 7-11
As we get closer to the end of the school year we 'lighten up' on some of our main entree selections. At the elementary level we have brought back lunchables which remain a hot weather item. Kids can grab them and go to get out on the playgrounds.
At the high school we will be having a senoir class steak cookout for those graduating this year, and a cookout for freshman, sophmores, and juniors. There will also be a special pizza party for the gifted and talented program kids at Woodview.
At the high school we will be having a senoir class steak cookout for those graduating this year, and a cookout for freshman, sophmores, and juniors. There will also be a special pizza party for the gifted and talented program kids at Woodview.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
April23-27
April is winding down and spring is here. New menus will be out next week so be looking for those on the web site and coming home with your elementary age students. All surveys have been returned and we are tabulating them right now. A final accounting will be on this blog next week. Last week's blog entry talked about the surveys and those trends seem to be holding true.
One big news item here in food service is the availability of Michigan apples. Historically, we have had a problem getting Michigan apples. I know that is hard to believe but it is true. The good news is that our suppliers, Gordon Food Service and next years commodity company Sysco have made a concerted effort to get Michigan apples.
One big news item here in food service is the availability of Michigan apples. Historically, we have had a problem getting Michigan apples. I know that is hard to believe but it is true. The good news is that our suppliers, Gordon Food Service and next years commodity company Sysco have made a concerted effort to get Michigan apples.
Friday, April 13, 2007
April 16-20
As of April 13th 90 % of you have filled out a lunch survey and have returned them. This is phenomenal number! Most school districts have a 50-60 percent return, so many thanks to all of you who filled out the survey. We have been tabulating as we go along so I can only report preliminary numbers and general comments at this time. The good news for us is that 88% of the surveys came back with a positive response. The remaining 12% were marked unsatisfactory and most of those explained their unsatifactory rating.
The perception that school lunches are unhealthy and fattening made up about 50% of the unsatisfactory remarks. We do not serve ANY fried foods at our elementary and middle schools. At the high school we fry our french fries only in 0 trans fat soybean oil. All other foods at the high school are baked, not fried. At all levels we have switched our buns, rolls, etc...over to whole grains, including pizza doughs. We are using reduced fat cheeses in all recipes, including sandwiches, and pizza. In the future we are planning to use more fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned. This feature will take some time however, and will not be truly instituted until the 2007-2008 school year.
Another perception is that we only serve processed foods. This is just simply not true. It is true we do sell some products that are pre-made or processed. At minimum we are doing production cooking 3 times a week at elementary schools, and 4 times a week at secondary schools. Due to labor and equipment limitations we do have to serve some processed foods. We do our best to keep this to a minimum. The 2007-2008 school year will bring many changes to food service and making our own food will be one of them.
Next week we will address more issues that have been raised. Overall though, most of you like the quality of the food your children are receiving. We will consider all requests on the surveys, both good and bad.
The perception that school lunches are unhealthy and fattening made up about 50% of the unsatisfactory remarks. We do not serve ANY fried foods at our elementary and middle schools. At the high school we fry our french fries only in 0 trans fat soybean oil. All other foods at the high school are baked, not fried. At all levels we have switched our buns, rolls, etc...over to whole grains, including pizza doughs. We are using reduced fat cheeses in all recipes, including sandwiches, and pizza. In the future we are planning to use more fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned. This feature will take some time however, and will not be truly instituted until the 2007-2008 school year.
Another perception is that we only serve processed foods. This is just simply not true. It is true we do sell some products that are pre-made or processed. At minimum we are doing production cooking 3 times a week at elementary schools, and 4 times a week at secondary schools. Due to labor and equipment limitations we do have to serve some processed foods. We do our best to keep this to a minimum. The 2007-2008 school year will bring many changes to food service and making our own food will be one of them.
Next week we will address more issues that have been raised. Overall though, most of you like the quality of the food your children are receiving. We will consider all requests on the surveys, both good and bad.
Monday, April 9, 2007
April 9-13
Welcome back !! This week in food service we will be getting back into the swing of things with some old time favorite lunches at the elementary level, including Walking Taco's and Chili Dogs. We are also featuring different beans at the elementary level all this month. This includes Refried, Vegetarian, Baked and Green Beans. At the secondary level we are bringing back an old favorite on Thursday...Crispitos! We are also featuring stir fry this week at the High School.
The surveys continue to roll in. 60% of you have returned them and we are hoping for 100%! This is a great opportunity for you to give us your input and lets us know what we need to work on as well as what we are doing right. Thanks to all of those who have returned them.
The surveys continue to roll in. 60% of you have returned them and we are hoping for 100%! This is a great opportunity for you to give us your input and lets us know what we need to work on as well as what we are doing right. Thanks to all of those who have returned them.
Friday, March 30, 2007
April 2-6 2007
Happy Spring Break!
We here in the food service department wish everyone a safe and happy spring break! See everyone back on April 9th!!
By mid-April we should have most of our lunch surveys back. Look for a general accounting of responses right here.
We here in the food service department wish everyone a safe and happy spring break! See everyone back on April 9th!!
By mid-April we should have most of our lunch surveys back. Look for a general accounting of responses right here.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Week of March 26-30th 2007
Whole Wheat Breads and Dough:
Since the beginning of 2007 we have been using whole wheat and multi grain buns for all of our sandwiches at both the secondary and elementary levels. A recent article at MSNBC.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17803437/ has new information on how to make pizza healthy!! Great news for both students and parents and even better news for us here in food service as we started this in January 2007!
Don't forget that March 30th is a half a day of school so we will only be providing breakfast for the students at all levels. We hope you all have a safe and happy spring break. For those of us staying at home we are 'knocking on wood' that the weather stays warm and sunny!
Since the beginning of 2007 we have been using whole wheat and multi grain buns for all of our sandwiches at both the secondary and elementary levels. A recent article at MSNBC.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17803437/ has new information on how to make pizza healthy!! Great news for both students and parents and even better news for us here in food service as we started this in January 2007!
Don't forget that March 30th is a half a day of school so we will only be providing breakfast for the students at all levels. We hope you all have a safe and happy spring break. For those of us staying at home we are 'knocking on wood' that the weather stays warm and sunny!
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