Child Nutrition and Wellness

Our Staff 

The Child Nutrition & Wellness Department is comprised of approximately 70 employees. Their leadership team has more than 30 years combined of training and professional experience in food service and nutrition. Each school location is managed by a Cafeteria Supervisor who has completed an extensive food safety course and passed the nationally accredited ServSafe exam. 

Together, we can make a healthy difference in the lives of Creighton's adventurous learners. 

Our Programs

Breakfast in the Classroom 

Numerous published studies show that academic achievement among students who eat school breakfast tends to improve, especially in vocabulary, math, and standardized tests. Students who eat breakfast at school also have better attendance and tend to behave better. That's why we serve breakfast in the classroom at no cost to students, district-wide. All Creighton students have premier access to a healthy meal first thing in the morning to set themselves up for a successful day. 

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program 

USDA's Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program is a federally assisted program which provides free fresh fruit & veggies to elementary school students during the school day. Through this program we're able to introduce learners to a variety of produce that they may otherwise not have had the opportunity to sample and provide nutrition education through facts about the fruit or vegetable that students are sampling. All nine Creighton schools are eligible and participate in the FFVP. 

Afterschool Supper Program 

Afterschool meals contribute to the healthy growth & development of children by providing them with supplemental nutritious options once the school day ends. We serve hot supper meals, free to children, most days of the week and during scheduled breaks. 

USDA's Nutrition Program Standards

Breakfast & lunch menus are planned according to USDA's guidelines for the National School Lunch & School Breakfast Programs. Breakfast is served in the classroom district-wide. For lunch, students have the option to create their own meals by selecting from a variety of foods served. At minimum, students must pick 3 of these options (including 1 fruit or vegetable) and are encouraged to choose 1 from each category for maximum nutrition benefits:

Entree + Fruit + Vegetable + Milk + Various Sides 

All meals served must meet the minimum nutrition requirements that are federally mandated.

Breakfast 
- 1 oz whole grain-rich grains 
- 1 cup of whole fruit or vegetable, and/or 100% juice 
- 1 cup of milk 

Lunch 
- 1 oz of whole-grain rich grains 
- 1 oz of protein 
- 1 cup fruit or 100% juice 
- 1 cup vegetable 
- 1 cup milk 

A la carte (snack) purchases
Snacks sold or served to students anywhere on campus during the school day must comply with federal & state Smart Snacks Standards. Per 7 CFR 210.11 the School Day is defined as the period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. 
- Must be a whole grain-rich product 
- The first ingredient must be a fruit, vegetable, protein or dairy product
- Must meet nutrient specifications as defined below under "Nutrition Standards"
This includes food sold as fundraisers and any other food provided by Creighton employees which students may consume on campus during the school day. This does NOT apply to food that parents/guardians send in from home for classroom celebrations. Foods brought from home must be store-bought.

To learn more about these programs and their nutrition regulations, please visit Arizona Department of Education - Health & Nutrition Services. 

Special Dietary Accommodations 

The Child Nutrition & Wellness Department has two Registered Dietitians that are here to assist students that have medical needs that may require special dietary accommodations. This includes (but is not limited to) food allergies, inborn errors of metabolism, and neurological disorders. 

We will work with the parents/guardians, school nurses, and the student's health practitioner to develop a customized menu to meet their needs. 

Please download the Special Dietary Accommodations Form below and return it to either your school nurse or the Child Nutrition and Wellness Department. Please know that this form must be signed by a licensed physician. 

Special Dietary Accomodations Form

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.