Menus are planned and created by a professional team of Registered Dietitians, Nutritionists and Chefs. The menus are planned following strict nutrition guidelines set forth by the USDA to assure Dallas ISD meals meet nutrition standards.

A whole grain is a grain made up of the entire grain kernel.  Whole grains contain fiber, B-vitamins, iron, protein, and healthy fats, unlike refined grain products such as white flour and white rice. Whole grain “rich” means that at least half of the grain in a grain product, is a whole grain.  Examples of whole grain rich food on the Dallas ISD menus are brown rice, tortillas, rolls, bread and buns, cereal, crust on pizza and breading on meats. 

Serving sizes are planned to be appropriate for the ages of our students.  Older students may receive more servings or larger serving sizes; therefore, receive more calories than younger students receive.

Dallas ISD is incorporating more herbs and spices to add flavor without sodium. Dallas ISD also reviews food specifications on bids and strives to select lower sodium food items that still taste great!

School meals are “healthier” (lower sodium, fat, and added sugars with more fiber from whole grains) than ever before, but they must also be appealing to kids.  Hamburgers, pizza, nachos and hot dogs are among the favorite foods of students.  Dallas ISD serves healthier versions of these food favorites because they are lower in sodium, fat and sugars with more fiber than the usual restaurant or fast food versions.

We offer 1 % low fat unflavored milk and fat free chocolate milk that has less added sugar than ever before. Pre K students are not allowed flavored milk with added sugar, unless there is a special dietary request form on file for a student requesting non dairy milk.

Breakfast:

Students are offered a choice of entrée, fruit, 100% fruit juice and choice of milk. With the exception of Pre K, students must choose 3 of the food items offered, one being a fruit or 100% fruit juice, for it to qualify as a full meal. For example: A chicken biscuit (2 food items) and a fruit would be considered a complete meal because it meets the minimum amount and a fruit was selected. But, the student could have also selected (at no additional charge), the chicken biscuit, fruit, 100% fruit juice and milk. Pre K is served all food components.

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Lunch:  

Students are offered foods from the 5 food groups, also known as food components (meat or meat alternate, grain, fruit, vegetable and milk). With the exception of Pre K, students must choose 3 of the 5 food components one being a fruit or vegetable, for it to qualify as a full meal. For example:  A hamburger (grain and protein) and a fruit would be considered a complete meal because it meets the minimum amount of components and a fruit or vegetable was selected. But, the student could have also selected instead (at no additional charge), the hamburger, fruit, vegetable x 2 and milk. Pre K is served foods from all 5 components.

When a student selects the maximum number of food choices vs the minimum at breakfast and lunch, it is much more filling while adding important nutrients, which would also prevent hunger by the next mealtime.

Yes, school meals are trans-fat free and planned to have 10% or fewer calories from saturated fat and 35% or fewer calories from total fat.  These calculations are done on a weekly average (not a daily average). We strive to purchase ingredients that are lower in fat and the district has no deep fat fryers on campuses.

Dallas ISD serves an assortment of vegetables and fresh vegetables when in season. At lunch, there typically is a raw and cooked vegetable option. We offer a wide variety of bright colored vegetables (tomatoes, carrots, green leafy vegetables, etc…) each week and also included are beans (legumes) weekly.  The “starchy” type vegetables are not offered daily.