Dining at New Life Academy
Our menus are planned to meet and follow the guidelines set up by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and in accordance with the Dietary guidelines for Americans.
Our meals also follow the MYPlate icon, which suggests that people eat balanced meals consisting of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. Like MyPlate, school lunches include 5 items, with occasional “extras.” Following are the meal patterns for lunch:
1 serving of fruit
1 serving of vegetable
1 serving of grain
1 serving of protein
1 servings of milk (1/2 pint fluid milk)
We evaluate our menus over the period of one week using Nutri-Kids software to ensure that they meet the requirements of USDA for 8 key nutrients: calories, total fat, saturated fat, protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C. Total fat must be less than 30% of calories, and saturated fat must be less than 10% of total calories. Requirements for other nutrients vary depending on students’ ages. New Life Academy offers the following options on a daily basis; all of which meet the USDA Standards:
- Main entrée
- Grab & Go Lunches
- Salad Option
2020-21 Lunch Prices
Student Lunch:
Grades PK-5 ….. $3.95
Grades 6-12 ….. $4.85
Specials Bar…… $5.50
Second Entrée Helping:
Student or Adult ….. $3.60
Adult Lunch:
Teachers, staff or visitors ….. $4.80
Milk ….. $.60
We will make milk substitutions for children with lactose intolerance. The substitution is lactose reduced milk. A medical statement signed by a licensed physician must be on file in the school health aide office in order to provide an alternative beverage choice for students.
The milk served at NLA is NOT treated with rBST/rBGH.Milk offered daily will be skim, 1% and chocolate flavored skim milk. Due to the new “School Meal Initiatives” 2% milk can no longer be offered on the main hot lunch line. 2% milk may be purchased in the Ala Carte line at the same price.
Cost per 1/2 pint ….. $.60
Our Elementary program (Grades Kindergarten – Grade 5) participates in the National School Lunch Program and serves meals under the “Offer vs. Serve” option, therefore we must:
- Price meals as a unit whether the student selects 3, 4 or 5 items
- Let the student select which items to choose or refuse (students can decline no more than 2 menu items)
New Life Academy has a computerized lunch ticket system wihch establishes a separate account for each student. Students are assigned their own PIN (Personal Identification Number), which is used when depositing money in their accounts, for the use of purchasing a meal, milk, or a la carte. The students will use the same PIN each year.
It is recommended that students (with the exception of Pre-K ) memorize their PIN in order to access their accounts and to avoid misuse. The account balance is reduced by the cost of the meal. The computer records and tracks each transaction. Balances remaining in accounts will rollover each year.
New students will receive their PIN at the Open House or the New Student Welcome event. New students who are unable to attend either of these events, will receive their PIN on the first day of school. Payments may be made on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or annual basis. When money is deposited, it will go into your specific family account.
The sale of any food item that is not included as part of the National School Lunch Program (Kindergarten – Grade 5) is considered an à la carte item. Likewise, the sale of any food item not included in lunches offered in Grades 6 – 12 are considered an a la carte item.
This would include: additional milk, single items from the main menu, second entrée helping, or snack items.
This year we will continue to offer students (Grades 4 and up) fresh fruit salad, organic food and drink items, pasta salad, fresh raw veggie packets, yogurt/fruit cups, individual sandwiches, soup choice every day, baked potato with or without fixings, fresh fruit as well as other daily specials.
For more information regarding the Food Service program at NLA, please contact:
Linda Watkins
Food Service Director
(651) 757-4318
Email