• Unfortunately, it is not possible to eliminate all allergens from our menus in the Food Service Department.
• There is always a possibility that our foods contain hidden ingredients or have come in contact with certain allergens when the foods are being packaged at the facility or transported.
• Sometimes, manufacturers change ingredients without prior notice.
• Together, we can create a plan to help meet your student's special dietary needs.

 

• Please know that the safest meal for a student with food allergies is a meal packed from home!

 

We identify the 8 most common food allergens in our digital menu, "My School Menu". Students and parents can review the menu and identify the allergens in the menus being served. Our menu software will also let you view all ingredients, calories, and carbohydrates in the products on the menu. 

 

Peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish are the most common life-threatening allergies in the district. We do our best to never serve these items as part of the school meal program. However, we cannot certify that we are a shellfish, fish, peanut or tree nut free facility. 

 

We do our best to offer our students a variety of foods in our daily menus! Students that have food preferences, intolerances, or sensitivities may be able to select foods from our regular daily menus that meet their needs through menu variety. One example would be if a student has an intolerance strawberries 🍓 we offer a variety of fruit and they could choose an apple 🍏 instead.

 

Please encourage your student to remind the cafeteria staff of their allergen when they come through the line-

• We will help your student choose foods that do not contain their allergen.
• If a student lets us know in the meal service line that he or she is allergic to something, we will try our best to make on the spot accommodations for the student.
• Food Service will then follow up with the school nurse for further information and planning.

 

We will make reasonable modifications to meals on a case-by-case basis to accommodate disabilities which restrict a child’s diet. Modified meals will be provided at no extra charge. Accommodations will be made on a case-by case basis. Requests for specific brands will not be honored.

 

“Under the law, a disability is an impairment which substantially limits a major life activity, which can include allergies and digestive conditions, but does not include personal diet preferences “.

 

 

Requests for meal modifications must be submitted in writing to the office at your child’s school. We prefer the form provided by East Valley Schools be used for requesting diet modifications. This form is available on the Food Service Tab on our district website or you can pick up a paper copy from the office your student attends.

 

 The request for meal modifications must include:

 

• Food(s) to be omitted/avoided from the child’s diet
• How the ingestion of the food impacts the child
• Food(s) to be substituted
• Child's name
• Signature of state-recognized medical authority

 

Requests for meal modification must be signed by a State-recognized medical authority, who is authorized to write medical prescriptions.

 

In Washington State, authorized medical authorities include:

 

• Medical Doctor (MD)
• Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)
• Physician’s Assistant (PA) with prescriptive authority
• Naturopathic Physician
• Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)