FOOD AND NUTRITION
PROCEDURES
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Subject:
B8
SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS
PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to provide the necessary steps in accommodating students with
disabilities that have special dietary needs.
PROCEDURE
A school breakfast and/or lunch can be prepared for children with special dietary needs. By law,
an exceptional child as defined in 7 CFR Part 15b, is one who has “… a physical or mental
impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities….” Major life activities are
defined to include functions such as “caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking,
seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.”
Special Dietary Needs
Schools can make substitutions or modifications in the standard meal pattern for students who
are considered exceptional under 7 CFR Part 15b and whose disability restricts their diet. There
shall be no additional charge to the child for substituted foods. Substitutions will be made on a
case by case basis only. To provide modified meals to students, the Diet Prescription for
Meals at School FM-5425 must be completed for each student as outlined below.
Physicians Prescription
The Diet Prescription for Meals at School FM-5425 must be completed and signed by a
licensed physician for each student who requires special meals. A copy must be provided to the
food service manager/satellite assistant and kept on file at the school. The Diet Prescription
for Meals at School is valid for up to one (1) year from the physician’s evaluation date, and
should be updated as often as determined by the physician.
Ordering Meals
The School Food Service Meal Order Sheet (Attachment A) is designated to provide the food
service manager/satellite assistant with the total count of special meals required by students in
their school on a daily basis. The School Food Service Meal Order Sheet should be
completed daily by teachers or staff members with students who require modified meals. All
order sheets should be submitted to the food service manager/satellite assistant’s office with
adequate time for meal preparation. Maintain order sheets with daily paperwork.
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FOOD AND NUTRITION
PROCEDURES
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Subject:
B8
SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS
Menu Modifications
Alternates specified on the menu may serve as substitutions. Food service managers/satellite
assistants should use the Menu Modifications for Special Meals table (Attachment B) as a guide
for providing special meals to students. Contact the student’s teacher and/or the Department of
Food and Nutrition for specific questions regarding modified textures or acceptable food
substitutions.
Fluid Milk Substitutions
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued the final
rule Fluid Milk Substitutions in the School Nutrition Program (73 FR 52903) on September 12,
2008 which states, in part:
…Specifically, schools are required to provide milk substitutes for children who have
a disability which substantially limits one or more life activities, and would be affected
by the consumption of dairy milk, such as diabetes….
Under Offer versus Serve, a meal without fluid milk can be reimbursable, and a milk
substitution is not necessary. When Offer versus Serve is not an option and a student has a
disability, medical or other special dietary need (e.g., allergy) that precludes the consumption
of dairy milk, the following steps must be followed:
A. The Diet Prescription for Meals at School FM-5425 must be completed and signed by a
physician.
B. The parent must submit the Diet Prescription for Meals at School to the food service
manager/satellite assistant.
C. The food service manager/satellite assistant must notify the Department of Food and
Nutrition by forwarding the Diet Prescription for Meals at School immediately to the
Department of Food and Nutrition, Attention: Food and Menu Management.
D. If after review of the Diet Prescription for Meals at School a milk substitution is deemed
necessary, Food and Menu Management will arrange delivery of the approved milk
substitute to the school site.
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FOOD AND NUTRITION
PROCEDURES
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Subject:
B8
SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS
Under Offer versus Serve, if a student does not drink dairy milk for reasons other than a
disability, a medical authority or a parent/legal guardian may submit a written request for the
student to receive an additional juice at no charge. The written request must also identify the
student’s medical or other special dietary need that precludes the consumption of dairy milk.
The additional juice must be entered under the Special Juice Key, Item #4861 JUIC SPEC.
For Action By: Principals, Food Service Managers and Satellite Assistants
Refer Questions to: Department of Food and Nutrition
nd
Revised: July 2003 (2 ), July 2005, July 2006, July 2010, July 2014
Reviewed: July 2016
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