Nutrition Services

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WBLAS Nutrition Services Mission

The mission of the WBLAS Nutrition Services, an exceptional team vital to our district dedicated to the nutritional needs of our students, is to ensure nutritionally enticing meals in a safe and welcoming environment that acknowledges and values each student through a system distinguished by:

A student driven menu
Sustainable and locally sourced foods
Innovative equipment and technology
Knowledgeable staff; and
Students with life-long healthy eating habits

Click a tab below to begin:

Educational Benefits Application

The 2025-2026 Educational Benefits Application will be available in
July 2025.

Applications can be completed through SchoolCafé. Paper applications are also available at your student's school, the District Center, or you can request an application be mailed to you by emailing nutritionservices@isd624.org or by calling 651-407-7515.

Educational Benefits Application

Printable Educational Benefits Application

Solicitud de beneficios educativos imprimible

As part of the Minnesota’s Free School Meals Program, all Student's from the White Bear Lake Area Schools will have one breakfast and one lunch available free of charge, each day at school.

Breakfast will include: 1 entree, fruit choices, 100% juice, and milk

Lunch will include: 1 entree, fruit and vegetables choices, and milk

With our ongoing efforts of providing a healthy learning environment, WBLAS will again be providing School Breakfast!!

Did you know:

One Breakfast at school is FREE OF CHARGE!
Many schools offer Grab n’ Go choices!
Starting the day off with a healthy breakfast increases your students' brain energy to think clearly in their classes.
School breakfast revs your students metabolism and keeps them going strong for the rest of the day!

The Educational Benefit Application may help your student qualify for benefits including reduced sports/activity fees, discounted internet access, discounted AP test registration fees and college application fees! Also, applications help our school receive extra state and federal funding.

Please check out THIS FLYER for more information. Contact the Nutrition Services Department at NutritionServices@isd624.org or 651-407-7515 with any questions.

Completing the Application:

Complete the Application for Educational Benefits if any of the following applies to your household:

Any household member currently participates in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or
The household includes one or more foster children (a welfare agency or court has legal responsibility for the child), or
The total household income of all members listed on the application is within the guidelines shown below (gross earnings before deductions, not take-home pay). Do not include as income: foster care payments, federal education benefits, MFIP payments, or value of assistance received from SNAP, WIC, or FDPIR. Military: Do not include combat pay or assistance from the Military Privatized Housing Initiative.
These income guidelines are effective from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

View quick card for easy-to-use instructions for completing the application online.

Click here for translated applications. This page features foreign language translations of the Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Priced Educational Benefits.

Why is it important to turn in the Educational Benefits application as soon as possible?

Your student(s) may qualify for potential discounts and reduced fees on the following:

sports/activity fees
college application fees
drivers training
internet access and utility bills
AP test registration fees
Schools may receive extra state funding! (In order for your student's school to receive extra state and/or federal funding our district must submit your application to the federal government. Applications sent after the fall deadline will not help schools receive extra funding)
And other additional benefits!

¿Por qué es importante entregar la solicitud de Beneficios Educativos lo antes posible?

Porque sus estudiantes pueden calificar para posibles descuentos y tarifas reducidas en lo siguiente:

* cuotas de deportes/actividades
* acceso a internet y facturas de servicios públicos
* Tarifas de registro de prueba AP
* tasas de solicitud de la universidad
* entrenamiento de conductores
¡Y otros beneficios adicionales!

Además, para que la escuela de su estudiante reciba fondos estatales y/o federales adicionales, nuestro distrito debe presentar su solicitud al gobierno federal. Las solicitudes enviadas después de la fecha límite de otoño no ayudarán a las escuelas a recibir fondos adicionales.

Haga clic aquí para llenar la aplicación en línea

Instrucciones fáciles para completar la aplicación en línea.

Outreach for Minnesota Health Care Program

Click the link below to see if you qualify for free or low-cost Health Care Programs for children.

24-25 Health Care Coverage.pdf

Haga clic en el enlace a continuación para ver si califica para programas de atención médica gratuitos o de bajo costo para niños.

24-25 cobertura de atención médica.pdf

Farm to School

Menus, Nutrition & Special Diets

Menus and nutritional analysis can be found on the Nutrislice web site.

With Nutrislice you'll be able to:

View descriptions and photos.
Find nutrition information and carb counts.
Rate the foods and leave comments.
Translate menus into a variety of languages.
Print menus directly from the website.

SPECIAL DIET REQUESTS

Special diet requests, such as gluten free, require a completed Special Diet Statement and discussion with the Nutrition Services Director before they are able to be served.

Printable Special Diet Statement

Overview

White Bear Lake Nutrition Services recognizes the importance of special diets and allergy concerns. Our staff have been trained on proper sanitation techniques to avoid cross-contamination during production of foods with allergens.

Parents are encouraged to visit their student's School Nutrition Manager or the district Director of Nutrition Services to review nutrient labels. Managers can show families how food is produced and the care they give to ensure a safe place for all students. Please keep in mind that students, staff, and community members still bring foods from home. Therefore, our schools cannot be guaranteed "free" from any allergy source.

Nutrition Services makes every reasonable effort to purchase nut free products for food items served in the district. However, due to voluntary food labeling and manufacturing/packaging facilities, Nutrition Services cannot guarantee that all items are processed in a nut or allergen free environment.

Lactose Free Milk

Parents or Guardians may request lactose free milk by completing the fluid milk substitute form using the Special Diet Statement and submitting it to your student's school nurse. Lactose free milk requests do not require a doctor's signature.

Other milk substitutions that are not nutritionally equivalent to cow's milk, such as rice milk, will require additional documentation.

Meal Modifications and Substitutions

White Bear Lake Area Schools Nutrition Services will provide special dietary requests for students with food allergies and/or other dietary restrictions.

In accordance with federal USDA regulations, the Special Diet Statement must be completed and signed by the parent/guardian as well as their physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, such as certified nurse practitioner. This must be completed before any accommodations are able to be made.

If no substitutions are required, a form is not needed, however families are encouraged to connect with the kitchen manager and school nurse.

Special Diet Menus

Please visit White Bear Lake Area School District's Nutrislice menus to see the allergens in the menu items served. At the top right, you will be able to filter the menu items by allergens of concern. Simply click on the allergen(s) your child must avoid and they will appear crossed off when viewing our menus. The foods containing the allergen(s) of concern will not print if you choose to print the filtered menu.

K-5 Gluten, Dairy and Egg Free Menu6-12 Gluten, Dairy and Egg Free MenuK-5 Gluten Free Menu6-12 Gluten Free Menu*Menus are subject to change

Special Diet FAQ's

What is a special diet statement for a participant with a disability that affects the diet?

The special diet statement is a form which provides information about the child, the disability for which the diet must be modified, defines which foods are to be omitted and substituted and is signed by a licensed physician, physician assistant or advanced practice nurse (such as a nurse practitioner).

A food allergy that results in a life threatening (anaphylactic reaction) would be an example of a special dietary need with a disability.

What is a special diet statement for a participant without a disability that affects the diet?

Substitutions for students without a disability will be made on a case-by case basis when supported by the Special Diet Statement.

Generally, a participant with a food allergy OR a food intolerance that does not result in a life threatening (anaphylactic) reaction, is not considered to be a person with a disability.

In most cases, the special dietary needs of a person who does not have a disability may be managed within the normal program meal service by avoiding certain food and choosing others. The special diet statement is needed only if a food substitution is requested.

Do I need to have a form completed every year?

The parent/guardian is responsible for providing a new special diet statement if there are any updates or changes to the current dietary form on file. It is not necessary to provide a new special diet statement every school year if there are no dietary changes.

Where should I submit my Special Diet information?

Forms should be completed and returned to your school nurse. The nurse will forward to the Nutrition Services Director and School Kitchen Manager.

OTHER PROGRAMS

Smart Snacks

Smart Snacks

Meals & Payments

Our school offers healthy meals each day. As part of the Minnesota’s Free School Meals Program, all students will have one breakfast and one lunch available free of charge, each day at school (excludes staff/adult/visitor meals).

Reasons why you should take advantage of school meals being offered:

Healthy students are better learners!
Nutritious options leading to better food choices!
Provides key nutrients improving concentration!
Reduces food insecurities!
Extends your food budget and saves you time!

School meals are nutritionally balanced options!

Breakfast includes: 1 entree, fruit, Juice, and Milk:

One Breakfast is free to each student
Cost for Adults and Visitors: $2.40

Lunch includes: 1 entree, Fruit, Vegetable, and Milk:

One Lunch is free to each student
Cost for Adults and Visitors: $5.00

Milk only? There is a $0.50 fee

Items that will require payment include:

Second meals or extra entrees
Milk only, if bringing lunch from home
Ala carte purchases
Adult meals

White Bear Lake Area Schools has a computerized meal payment system that assigns a special 'pin' number to each student. This is like a pre-paid credit card. Parents deposit money into their student's account and students will enter their pin number to pay for any purchases.

Ala Carte snack purchases are still available at secondary schools and some elementary schools. Money for these purchases can be brought to school via cash or check or entered through SchoolCafe online. More information is listed below.

Meal Costs and Payments

Educational Benefits Application

Who may qualify?

Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster, homeless, migrant and runaway children qualify without reporting household income. Alternatively, children can qualify if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size. See directions for more information on income qualifications.

To request an application be mailed to you, please call 651.407.7515 or stop by your student's school. You may also apply online at the White Bear Lake Area Schools Online Meal Application site.

APPLY ONLINE
Download Application for Educational Benefits

Descargar solicitud de beneficious educativos

Click here for translated applications. This page features foreign language translations of the Prototype Application for Educational Benefits

Meal Account Balance - Refunds and Procedures

Funds remaining in your student's account at the end of each school year will roll over to the next school year. Unclaimed funds after leaving the school district will automatically be transferred to your students school donation fund. See below for more information.

If your student has graduated or has moved out of the District, please complete the Request for Refund form. If you would like money transferred to a sibling, please indicate so on the form. Paper copies of the form may also be found here.

Please keep your student's account in good financial standing. If you are having problems keeping your account up-to-date, contact the Nutrition Services Department at 651.407.7515 to make arrangements.

Payments

Deposits for extra milk, extra entrees or a la cart items can be made daily through the following methods:

Online Payments: SchoolCafe
At your students school via Cash or Check, please remember to include your students name and lunch pin on the outside of the envelope
Students will need to have money in their SchoolCafe account in order to purchase milk if you are bringing lunch from home, a 2nd milk if you are getting school lunch, extra entrees or any ala carte items.

SchoolCafe

With SchoolCafe parents/guardians are able to:

Add payments for extra entrees or a la cart purchases (including vending machines)
view student account balance;
view student transaction history;
manage student purchase restrictions and set preferences;
set up recurring and automatic payments;
set up low balance alerts and notifications;
utilize as a web browser or a smartphone app

Visit the Online Payment page for more information.

You will need your student(s) ID number. This is different than their lunch pin number. Please contact the school office if you are unsure or need to verify.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Nutrition Services via phone at 651.407.7515 or email at nutritionservices@isd624.org.

Angel Fund and Donations

This is a fund used by Nutrition Services as a safety net for students in grades K-12 that do not have sufficient funds in their accounts due to circumstances beyond their control and who do not qualify for meal benefits. The fund saves children the embarrassment of not having money to pay for their meals. This is a temporary solution until other arrangements can be made to assist the child and family on a more permanent basis.

How does it work? Funds are available to provide students with nutritious lunch when the need has been identified by the principal, teacher or other designated staff member. A referral must be sent to the nutrition services office before funds may be transferred.

How can I contribute? Donations are accepted year-round from individuals or groups. Contributions should be mailed to Nutrition Services Office at 4855 Bloom Ave, Room 310, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. Checks should be made payable to White Bear Nutrition Services Angel Fund. Please indicate if you would like to remain anonymous in the school board minutes. You may also make a donation directly to your child's school.

Food Permits & Catering

WBL Catering Guide

WBL Food Permit Form

Food Permit FAQs

Catering

Who needs to complete a food permit form?

Persons or groups serving food to the public
An event where attendees are able to:
- Purchase Food
- Give a donation for food
- Pay admission - which would include food
- If you would like to use the school kitchen or serving equipment for any reason
- If you are unsure - please complete the form!
Examples include: Bake Sales, Carnivals, Community Events, Concessions, Fundraisers, and Tournaments

A food permit form is not needed for private and invite-only events including potlucks, staff meetings, team meetings, and the like - unless money is exchanged such as a $5.00 suggested donation for a working lunch.

Are there Fees?

Timeline

Resources

Our Farm to School Values Statement: White Bear Lake Area Schools Farm to School initiatives create exposure to, engagement with, and excitement around fresh, local homemade foods for students, families and the community. Our partnerships between farmers/producers, the classroom, and the cafeteria benefit students, families and the community through: stronger connections with agriculture and the food system; new experiences that influence decision making and healthy habits; a culture that values and provides equitable access to fresh, local, healthy and delicious food

Get to know our Farm to School Initiative:

Farm to School Values Statement:

White Bear Lake Area Schools Farm to School initiatives create exposure to, engagement with, and excitement around fresh, local homemade foods for students, families and the community. Our partnerships between farmers/producers, the classroom, and the cafeteria benefit students, families and the community through: stronger connections with agriculture and the food system; new experiences that influence decision making and healthy habits; a culture that values and provides equitable access to fresh, local, healthy and delicious food.

What is Farm to School?

How does WBLAS participate in Farm to School?

WBLAS serves a variety of local produce and foods throughout the year, and especially in the fall. Some examples include apples, carrots, potatoes, summer squash, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, maple syrup, and more.

WBLAS is participating in the MN Farm to School Institute for the 2024-2025 school year. The MN FTSI is a team-based, year-long professional learning opportunity for schools to develop skills and action plans for growing their Farm to School program.

We are working to grow our Farm to School connections beyond the cafeteria by including the community and classroom. Some recent activities include showcasing local apples at community events, and taste testing local produce with after school programming.

Please join us in thanking and supporting our Farm to School Partners

Taylor Ventures/Big River Farms
The Good Acre
Hmong American Farmers Association
Pine Tree Apples
Hamel Maple Syrup

Beyond local farm and farm hub partners, we also support locally-made products on our menu:

Deeply Rooted Farms
HOYO Sambusas
Captain Ken’s Foods
Karlsburger Kitchens

Civil Rights 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: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, 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; or

(2) fax:

(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442

(3) email:

program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.