School Nutrition
Students are expected to confine all eating to the cafeteria (except for planned activities.)
Students are expected to display good manners in the cafeteria. Students should use correct table manners, talk only to those at their table, and should leave the table as clean as possible.
School Nutrition Information
The School Nutrition staff at each school invites and encourages your child’s participation in the breakfast, lunch and snack programs. Nutritious meals are planned, prepared, and served daily. All meals meet the USDA dietary guidelines for students in the specified grade levels
Meal Cost
Emanuel County student meals will remain under the USDA CEP pricing option for the 2024-2025 school year. Under CEP, students enrolled in Emanuel County Schools will be served one breakfast and/or one lunch per day at no charge. When snacks are offered as part of afterschool group tutoring conducted by the school system the students will receive snacks at no charge.
Parents are encouraged to visit their child’s school at mealtime with prior reservations. Meal costs for visitors are: Breakfast - $5.00 and Lunch - $6.00.
A La Carte Purchases
Students are allowed to purchase extra items that are being served as part of the student meal such as extra milk, fruits or vegetables or smart snack items available in addition to the student meal that is provided at no charge. Smart snack items are clearly labeled as not being part of the student meal. Ala Carte Purchase payment is due at the time of purchase. No charging will be allowed for Ala Carte items. Students may place money into their meal account in advance. Please place payment for ala carte items in a sealed envelope with your child’s first and last name and the payment amount on the outside of the envelope. If paying by check, include the student’s first and last name on the check.
Food Allergies
Parents of students with food allergies are required to provide the school nurse prior to the start of every school year, with documentation from their child’s physician or nurse supporting a diagnosis of food allergy, and any risk of anaphylaxis. Any food to which the child is allergic should be identified along with a description, if appropriate, any prior history of anaphylaxis; listing any medication prescribed for the child for the treatment of anaphylaxis; detailing emergency treatment procedures in the event of a reaction; listing the signs and symptoms of a reaction; assessing the child’s readiness for self-administration of prescription medication; and a list of substitute meals that may be offered to the child by school or early childhood education program food service personnel. The school nurse will copy this information to the school nutrition program so that appropriate changes may be made in the student’s meal selections if needed. Lactose intolerance is not considered an allergy. Lactaid milk is available at all schools for students who are lactose intolerant.
Menus
Nutritious meals prepared daily are served at all schools. Therefore, competitive meals purchased from local restaurants are not allowed to be delivered to students for lunch. Students in Pre-K through 2nd grade receive a non-select breakfast meal. At lunch they have a choice of lunch entrée but do not receive a choice of side fruits and vegetables. Grades 3 through 12 are approved for offer vs. serve for breakfast and lunch and may choose three or four items offered at breakfast and four or more food group components at lunch. Students are required as part of the USDA School Nutrition Program to have one of their selections to be at least ½ cup fruit or vegetable at both breakfast and lunch.
Menus are posted on the school’s web page and in the cafeteria of each school. Please contact Mrs. Chandra Hooks, Director of School Nutrition, at 478-237-6673 with any questions you may have concerning school nutrition.