Nutrition Services

If your student needs a meal modification because of a food allergy, disability, or other dietary restriction, contact the Nutrition Services Department before the accommodation is needed. Most requests require a completed Special Diet Statement and a conversation with the Nutrition Services Director.

Request a Meal Modification

The Special Diet Statement must describe:

• The student’s disability, allergy, or dietary restriction
• The foods that must be avoided
• The foods that should be substituted

The form must be signed by the student’s parent or guardian and a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, such as a certified nurse practitioner. Nutrition Services must receive the completed form before meal modifications can begin.

If your student can choose from the regular menu without substitutions, you do not need to complete a form. Families are still encouraged to discuss dietary needs with the school nurse and School Nutrition Manager.

Submit the Special Diet Statement

Return the completed form to your student’s school nurse. The nurse will share it with the Nutrition Services Director and School Nutrition Manager.

Review Allergens and Menu Options

Visit White Bear Lake Area Schools menus in Nutrislice to review ingredients and allergens. Use the allergen filter in the upper-right corner to select the foods your student must avoid. Menu items containing those allergens will appear crossed out and will be excluded from printed menus.

Elementary: Gluten Free Menu, Top 9 Free Menu

Secondary: Gluten Free Menu, Top 9 Free Menu

Menus are subject to change.

Lactose-Free Milk

Parents and guardians may request lactose-free milk by completing the Special Diet Statement and returning it to the student’s school nurse. A medical provider’s signature is not required for lactose-free milk.

Requests for milk substitutes that are not nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk, such as rice milk, require additional documentation.

Food Allergy Precautions

Nutrition Services staff are trained in sanitation practices designed to reduce the risk of cross-contact while preparing and serving food. Families may also contact their School Nutrition Manager or the Nutrition Services Director to review ingredient labels and discuss how food is prepared.

Nutrition Services makes every reasonable effort to purchase nut-free products. However, product labels and manufacturing practices may change, and students, staff, and visitors may bring food from home. The district cannot guarantee that its schools or menu items are completely free of nuts or other allergens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is a special diet considered related to a disability?

A dietary restriction may be considered related to a disability when it affects a student’s ability to eat safely or participate in the meal program. A food allergy that may cause a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction is one example.

The Special Diet Statement must identify the disability, explain how the student’s diet must be modified, list the foods to avoid and provide appropriate substitutions. It must be signed by a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.

Can Nutrition Services accommodate a dietary restriction that is not related to a disability?

Requests that are not related to a disability are reviewed individually and must be supported by a Special Diet Statement when a food substitution is needed.

Many food allergies and intolerances that do not cause a life-threatening reaction can be managed by selecting appropriate foods from the regular menu. A form is not required when no substitutions are needed.

Do I need to submit a new form every school year?

No. A new Special Diet Statement is required only when your student’s dietary needs or requested meal modifications change. The parent or guardian is responsible for submitting an updated form.

Where should I submit the form?

Return the completed Special Diet Statement to your student’s school nurse. The nurse will share it with the Nutrition Services Director and School Nutrition Manager.

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; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.