Special Dietary Needs
Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) will make modifications and substitutions to the regular school meals for a student with a disability that restricts their diet. The Special Diet Prescription Form must be completed and signed by appropriate party before the school cafeteria can provide any modifications or substitutions.
The completed form must be sent back to the school cafeteria to be put on file. The school cafeteria staff will then prepare the special meal along with the other meals being served daily.
FNS will try to accommodate special dietary needs for students without a disability. However, USDA regulations state that the school is not required to serve special meals to all children with diet restrictions. Such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis by the FNS Dietitian, and must be supported by the same Special Diet Prescription Form signed by a MEDICAL AUTHORITY.
In addition, children with religious/ethnic dietary needs must also fill out this form and it must be signed by a PARENT/GUARDIAN. Below are the 3 categories for requiring special meals and the required signatures for each category.
1. Disabilities:
Physician Signature Required Orthopedic, visual, Speech/Swallowing problems, Emotional illness, food anaphylaxis (severe food allergy), physical/mental impairment, cancer, heart disease, PKU, celiac disease.
2. Non-Disabled/Special Dietary Needs:
Medical Authority Signature Required Food intolerances, non-anaphylaxis food allergy, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol.
3. Religious/Ethnic Dietary Needs:
Parent/Guardian Signature Required Religious beliefs, vegetarians, vegans.
For further information, including definitions of disabilities, other special dietary needs, and school responsibilities, please contact Tammy Alvarez, RD, LDN, Coordinator & Dietitian at 671-4192.
Click here to download the Special Diet Prescription form.
Click here to download the Special Diet Prescription form (Spanish) .