Student Nutrition Services Sustainability Actions
The Department of Student Nutrition Services at Tamalpais Union High School District is committed to providing nutritious food to students to fuel the mind and body as a partner in the educational environment. We are dedicated to quality customer service and positive relationships within the school community.
Providing nutritious foods to the students of Tamalpais Union High School District so they are ready to learn is a top priority in the Student Nutrition Services (SNS) Department.
- In 2019, reduced meal juice offering to one single 4oz serving 100% fruit juice without added sugar to encourage consumption of a variety of fruit choices, including fresh fruit. The 100% juice option gives students that are lactose intolerant and additional choice beyond the water filling station.
- Priority is procuring whole muscle proteins that are minimally processed and specified on purchasing bids.
- Specify on purchasing bids, baked goods and other foods without unnecessary added ingredients, just the basics!
- SNS department follows mandated nutrition standards to include at lunch; two ounces of whole grains rich; daily vegetables offered include leafy green, red/orange, and legumes; a variety of fruit choices; two ounces of lean protein such as turkey, eggs, tuna, legumes, cheese, chicken, beef, nuts/seeds, tofu, pea-protein alternatives, and edamame. Breakfast: two ounces of whole grains, one cup of fruit, and one cup of milk. All meals include local fresh Clover Sonoma milk.
The environment is a priority for the SNS department when specifying supplies on purchasing bids
- 2019, removed the use of labels on every item, now place signs in the serving area removing the need to buy labels, print and place on each entrée. Time and funds are reallocated to food and production.
- 2019, specify Bio-view boxes for serving pastas and entrees. Recyclable • Leak Resistant • Made in the U.S.A. • Heat Lamp Resistant • Microwaveable • Stackable and Made from 100% recycled paper (minimum 35% post- consumer content). Specify paper pagoda pails, foil and other supply items needed for food service that are recyclable.
- Work with students and school garden programs to compost kitchen food scraps.
- Recycling cans, cardboard, plastic, foil, and cans from food production in the kitchen
To reduce trash volume from packaging:
- Encourage “bring your own utensil” campaign to reduce the use of plastic utensils
- Conscience about water and chemical use when filling dish stations for cleaning
- Offer as many food options as possible under a sneeze guard without some packaging
- Limit trays if not needed due to packaging provided
Budget Development to sustain the Student Nutrition Services:
- The SNS department follows mandated United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) procurement regulations, including a bidding program to obtain a lower pricing on quality items specified in purchasing bids. TUHSD SNS department organized a purchasing cooperative to include six large school districts who joined together in a bidding process to procure food, produce and supplies which has increased buying power.
- Utilization of the USDA Foods Program: USDA purchases food from USA farmers for government use in schools, food banks and the Department of Defense. Entitlement is a “take it or leave it” funding source. As of April 21, 2022, the department received a $55,315 credit on USDA foods that support USA farms to include fruit, vegetables, protein and dairy products grown in the USA and used in meal preparation. The $55,315 is not charged to the Nutrition Budget or the District and is not reflected in the unadited actual report.
- 2019-2022 secured $175,072 in Federal and local grant funds to replace inefficient equipment older than twenty years with Energy Star rated equipment made in the United States to include replacing reach in refrigerators, freezers, insulated warmers, tilt skillets, serving lines, and a back-up generator at Tamalpais High School to prevent re-occurring food loss during electrical outages.
Partners in Nutrition: Local Dairy Clover Sonoma, Marin Sonoma Produce, Danielsen Co, and Gold Star Foods
https://cloversonoma.com/clover-cares/
https://marinsonomaproduce.com/about/
https://www.dancofoods.com/our-story
https://www.goldstarfoods.com/sustainability/
Equity in School Meals:
Universal free meals at school have removed the inequity by allowing ALL students, regardless of income, to have a nutritious free breakfast and lunch. Free meals at TUHSD have reduced the stigma that had prevented many free/reduced qualifying students from eating at school and has reduced the fear of asking for a meal without money.
https://www.childrensdefense.org/blog/universal-meals-are-essential-for-advancing-racial-equity/
https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/blog/the-universal-free-school-meal-experiment/