2012-2013 School Meal Key Messages
As a cafeteria supervisor, you and your team are the face of Food and Child Nutrition Services. Everyday, you have interactions with students,
parents, teachers and others on campus. And everyday you have the opportunity to educate others on our school meal programs.
Use these key messages:
 In daily conversation with parents, teachers, coordinated school health team and school administrators.

When you participate in school health fairs or present at parent and teacher meetings.
Purpose of Key Messages: To help all in Dallas ISD Food and Child Nutrition Services, speak in a unified voice.
Topic
Key Messages
Introducing Hello, I’m __________________ (name), ________________ (title) at ________________________ (name of school), where
Self with a we provide good nutrition that fuels successful learning.
 Our goal is to provide quality food on the line all the time with a smile, so from the first student we serve to the last all have a
Mission
(Phone
message)
School
Meal Facts
Your
Personal
Stories
Breakfast
in the
Classroom
positive school meal experience.
Like ___________ (insert audience speaking to (parents, teachers)), we are dedicated to helping children achieve their
potential. Our mission is to provide good nutrition that fuels successful learning.
Dallas ISD School Meals:
 Features student tested and approved menu items and are planned by a team of nutrition professionals.
- This year’s menu features Dallas ISD student chef inspired recipes: Chicken Ranch Salad, Southwest Chicken Salad,
Fruit & Yogurt Parfait, Fresh Fruit Salad and Tomato & Cucumber Salad
- We get student feedback to help plan the menu through student focus groups, taste testing throughout the district and
student surveys.
 Provide a well-balanced variety of nutrient-packed foods every day, including vegetables, whole grains, fruit, lean protein-rich
entrees and low fat and nonfat milk
 Promote nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.
- Elementary and middle school students are encouraged to select two vegetable choices and a fruit with their lunch
- High School students are encouraged to select two vegetables and two fruit choices with their lunch.
- Under the new meal guidelines students are required to take at least one vegetable or fruit with school lunch.
Make the school meal program come alive, share your personal stories and experiences.
 Share why you and your team enjoy serving students nutritious meals.
 Share about how you and your team enjoy preparing fresh salads for students.
 Share about your experience with your school nutrition promotions.
 Share the positive feedback you receive from students about school meals
*Most importantly, keep it positive. You work hard to provide nutritious meals. Your story needs to be heard!!
If you want students to be more alert, focused and ready to tackle the academic challenges of the school day, strongly
consider starting a breakfast in the classroom program at your school. Breakfast in the Classroom ensures all students
start the day well-nourished and ready to learn. And a growing number of Dallas ISD schools are participating.
*See Breakfast in the Classroom Key Messages for more key messages on Breakfast in the Classroom Program
Topic
New Meal
Standards
Offer vs
Serve
Taste
Testing
Meal Price
Increase
Key Messages
Our meals meet the new federal school meal nutrition standards, ensuring students receive the nutrition needed to
succeed at school. Under the new standards, students are required to select at least one nutrient-rich vegetable or fruit
with their lunch. This year’s menu features more whole grains and an increased variety of fruits and vegetables.
Additional standards school lunch is required to meet:
 Age-appropriate portion sizes and calorie limits
 A wider variety of vegetables, including dark green (broccoli, spinach, collard greens) and red/orange vegetables (carrots,
Tomato and Cucumber Salad, Sweet Red Pepper Strips, Sweet Potato Wedges) and legumes (Baked Beans, Southwestern
Beans, Tex-Mex Salad)
 More whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat rolls, whole wheat buns, whole wheat tortillas, whole wheat pasta)
 Strict limits on saturated fat and sodium
Responses to questions on New Meal Standards:
Question: Why can’t students have more grain items?
Response: The new meal standards place limits on the amount of grain that can be offered. However, under the new standards
we do offer a wider variety of fruits and vegetables. Students may take up to two servings of vegetables and one fruit serving (two
servings for high school). In fact, the new meal standards actually increase the amount of nutrient-rich foods served.
For a balanced (reimbursable) meal students are required to take at least three items. One of these items must be a fruit or
vegetable.

Elementary and Middle: For a balanced (reimbursable) lunch, student may select up to one entrée, one milk, two
vegetables and one fruit.

High School: For a balanced (reimbursable) lunch, high school student may select up to one entrée, one milk, two
vegetables and two fruits.
*An entrée contains both protein and grain.
If you do taste testing for health fair or meeting:
We are serving students nutrient- and flavor-packed foods, __________________ (list item taste testing) is one of the items
we offer and encourage students eat. Would you like to try a sample?
*Make sure you have tasted the item you’re sampling. Be positive about the item sampling. Great to share your personal story.(“This
is an item our students love./This is an item we want to encourage students to eat./This is a new recipe this year./This is a salad we
make in our school kitchen.)
If you receive questions on meal price increase:
In addition to convenience, school meals are an economic and nutrition bargain. With the release of the new federal meal
regulations, new meal prices will increase to $1.25 for breakfast and $1.75 for lunch. Although prices are going up $0.25,
school meals remain the best value for a healthy meal for your child.
 Reduced price meals remain the same price as last year ($0.30 for breakfast/$0.40 for lunch)
 Free or reduced-price meals are available to students whose families meet certain income criteria. To apply for the 20122013 school year, please see me (cafeteria supervisor) or complete online application at www.dallasisd.org.