Special Diet Requests
Special diet requests, such as gluten-free, require a completed Special Diet Statement and a discussion with the Nutrition Services Director before they are able to be served.
White Bear Lake Nutrition Services recognizes the importance of special diets and allergy concerns. Our staff has been trained on proper sanitation techniques to avoid cross-contamination during the 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 food 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.
Meal Modifications & 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 a 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 can filter the menu items by allergens of concern. 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. Special Diet Menu area available by emailing Nutritionservices@isd624.org.
*Menus are subject to change
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.
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 that 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 foods 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 the School Kitchen Manager.
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; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.