A Closer Look at SFUSD’s Food Service

The San Francisco Unified School District Student Nutrition Services department (SNS) provides meal service through the National School Lunch Program for 105 K-12 schools and 6 charter schools. At these schools SNS serves over 6,000 breakfasts, 23,000 lunches and 7,000 After School Snacks.

Our meals:

• Contain no artificial flavoring or colors
• Are baked, not fried
• Contain 0 grams of trans fat (except for naturally-occurring fats in beef and cheese which are not considered a health risk)

Every day we serve:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables from local vendors, served on salad bars at middle, high and some elementary schools, or a fresh pack at the elementary schools without salad bars
• Fresh packs include a variety of cut fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery sticks, zucchini sticks and jicama. These are locally grown when available.
• Whole grain breads from local vendors or rice, pasta or pizza crusts that are whole grain
• Hot breakfast at elementary schools in addition to a choice of cereals for those who prefer a cold breakfast
• Wholesome meals designed for our diverse population

In addition:

• We serve locally grown organic fruit one day a month
• All applesauce is unsweetened and pineapple bits are in natural juice
• Middle and high schools have more choices available (One choice at the high school is a larger portion item to accommodate bigger appetites)
• A pilot program to make all meals including a la carte sales reimbursable under the National School Lunch Program is currently taking place at Balboa High School
• A Grab and Go Breakfast program is available at three schools.

Our school district, like many others across the country, faces these challenges:

• Providing healthy, balanced meals
• Maintaining a budget
• Meeting the National School Lunch Guidelines for breakfast, lunch and snacks:
  • Less than 30% calories from fat
  • Less than 10% saturated fat
  • Guidelines for essential nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Calcium and Iron
  • Necessary protein and calories for active children
• Following the SFUSD Wellness Policy guidelines established by SFUSD
• Feeding hungry children so they can learn

The healthy meals, created and prepared specifically for SFUSD children, are tested and approved by our students. They are produced in USDA-inspected production facilities that are environmentally controlled. All products are thoroughly inspected and tested throughout the production and packaging process to ensure product integrity and safety. Meals are freshly prepared and flash frozen to seal in freshness and nutrients so they retain the highest amount of nutrients possible during shipping and heating.

Every month a fruit or vegetable is featured in the newsletter in the “Harvest of the Month” column as well as served on the menu. This gives students the opportunity to try new things and educates them and their parents on the valuable nutrients of the fruits and vegetables we serve on our menus.