About Belmont Schools Food Services

The Department of Food Service is responsible for providing nutritious meals for students that partake in the lunch offerings. We also provide breakfast at the high school level.

We strive to be ahead of federal and state guidelines concerning the wellness of our students in action as well as policy. We are challenged to serve nutritious and appealing meals on a daily basis. Soda and candy has not been part of the school lunch program for several years. We serve skim and reduced fat milk, control portion sizes, restrict sodium and high caloric foods.

In Food News...

MENU CHANGES AND SUPPLY SHORTAGES

Dear Families - The Belmont Food Services Department is asking for your patience and support as we navigate new challenges. As you may be aware, we are currently faced with unprecedented shortages of food and packaging materials, massive delays and/or cancellations of deliveries. Nationwide shortages and delays have affected availability of certain food items, leading to substitutions of menu items we’ve been able to offer regularly in the past. These supply issues are occurring throughout the country and are especially challenging for school systems, due to the quantity of meals we serve and the nutrition standards we follow.

All of this means that we may need to make quick substitutions to our menus based upon what we are able to acquire. We know that this affects students, and we are doing our best to provide updates about menu changes when possible as soon as we identify an issue.

At this time, we cannot guarantee 2nd meals will be available and allergy specific meals are harder for us to supply.

Please know that our number one priority continues to be providing healthy, nutritious, and appetizing meals for your children. We love seeing them every day and appreciate your support and patience as we continue to offer meals at no charge for all students. The good news is that free breakfast (where applicable) and lunch will continue throughout the school year, so please stick with us while we face yet another challenge. Your participation helps our program stay strong, and we look forward to serving you!

Warmly,

Dustin O'Brien

Food Service Director

Belmont Public Schools

MEAL UPDATES FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR

Welcome back! All the information you need for school meals can be found at the helpful link below.

What will meals look like for my student in the 2021-22 school year?

BHS Kitchen: Teresa Vidette (tvidette@belmont.k12.ma.us) 617-993-5871

Chenery Kitchen: Melissa Moran (mmoran@belmont.k12.ma.us) 617-993-5804

Butler Kitchen: Donna Hubbard (dhubbard@belmont.k12.ma.us) 617-993-5554

Burbank Kitchen: Suna Cinar (scinar@belmont.k12.ma.us) 617-993-5504

Wellington Kitchen: Sue Santoro (ssantoro@belmont.k12.ma.us) 617-993-5604

Winn Brook Kitchen: Silva Kavak (skavak@belmont.k12.ma.us) 617-993-5704

**NEW PIZZA VENDOR**

comella

We are proud to partner with Comella's Pizza for the 2021-22 school year.

Allergens: Wheat and Dairy (Same as previous pizza vendor)

Food Service Director, Dustin O'Brien, sits down with Roger Colton, Belmont Media to discuss how meals will work during school closure.

Franklin Tucker of the Belmontonian interviews Food Service Director, Dustin O'Brien, on why this service is important to our community.

INTRODUCING POWER PACKS!

Over the last few weeks, BPS food services have implemented Power Packs at the elementary level and the response has been really positive. Power Packs are a 4-compartment, compostable container which includes an appealing breakfast or lunch for students on the go. The container’s goal is to offer a complete meal in an easy to see and consume containers. Students know exactly what they’re getting and a big thank you to our staff for this new offering to students.

Daily Allergen Boards in Each Building

Our kitchen staff update these boards daily to ensure students/faculty are informed of potential allergens. If an item contains a particular allergen, that menu item will be labeled under the appropriate box (Soy, wheat, egg, etc.).

WHAT MAKES A REIMBURSABLE LUNCH?

Five essential components must be offered every day: fruit, vegetables, grains, meat/meat alternatives and milk. Students must take 3 out of the 5 to make it count as a reimbursable meal, one of which has to be a fruit or vegetable. If a student arrives at the register with less than 3 items, they may opt to return to serving area for additional items until the requirements are met. Otherwise, items selected will be charged a la carte. This applies to free, reduced and full pay students. In order for free, reduced or paid meals to be eligible for reimbursement, a full meal must be taken. These guidelines are set forth by the USDA and are not adjustable by Belmont Public Schools. More information on Offer vs. Serve is available here. Belmont School's Offer vs. Serve Policy is posted to the right.

BPS Food Services is proud to announce it’s joining forces with Walden Local Meats based in Burlington, MA. The goal is to feature LOCAL, 100% grass-fed beef and pork items monthly on our lunch menus. All products are sourced within 250 miles. Help us support LOCAL farms and look out for items on the February menus at both the Chenery Middle School and High School. This is what Farm to Table is all about. Here’s a reminder of some of our LOCAL vendors: Iggy’s Bread, Sal’s Pizza and Fantini Bakery. Learn more about Walden Local Meats here.

Available as of July 6th, 2017, Submit Your 2017-18 Free and Reduced Meal Application Online. Click here or the picture below!

Allergen Alert!

Iggy's Bread

Products are produced in a plant that processes product which contain Sesame, Almonds and/or Pecans. Please communicate this with your children that on "Iggy's Bread" menu days; we have other bread options available.

Nutritional Links for Iggy's Bread

Catering Requests

Did you know that the Belmont Food Service Department offers catered items for breakfasts, faculty luncheons, after school student events and more? Take a look at our revised order guide listed below. If interested, please find the order form below and/or contact the Food Service Director for Belmont Schools, Dustin O’Brien.

BPS Catering Order Guide

Catering Request Form

NOTE: All catering requests must be placed and confirmed at least one week in advance. This form can be sent to the food service office at BHS (Room 148A) or emailed to dobrien@belmont.k12.ma.us. Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance or full amount will be charged.

Our Offer vs. Serve Policy

To help reduce food waste and promote student acceptance, Belmont Public Schools will utilizes the offer vs. serve (OVS) option in all schools. This notice is to clarify the requirements of OVS, specifically related to what students must take in order to have a reimbursable meal.

*Students are required to take a minimum of ½ cup of fruit or vegetables for a reimbursable meal at both breakfast and lunch.

Breakfast Requirements for OVS (where applicable)

At breakfast, schools must offer students all three required food components in at least the minimum required amounts. The components at breakfast are grains (with optional meats/meat alternates allowed), juice/fruit/vegetable and milk. Under OVS, a student must be offered at least four (4) food items and must select at least three (3) food items – one (1) item must be either a fruit or vegetable.

Lunch Requirements for OVS

At lunch, schools must offer students all five (5) required food components in at least the minimum required amounts. The components at lunch are: meats/meat alternates; grains; fruit; vegetables; and fluid milk. Under OVS, a student must take at least three (3) components in the required serving sizes - one (1) component must be either a fruit or vegetable.

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Nutrition Facts