Welcome to Weston Food and Nutrition Services!
Mission
The mission of the Weston Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services is to offer balanced, nutritious meals for all students, promote overall health, academic success and educate students to make optimal food choices for life.
Mr. Charlie Kotufo is the Director of Food Services. If you have any questions or concerns please contact him at kotufok@weston.org or (781) 786 – 5295.
Meals
Monthly menus are planned by our Registered Dietitian Melanie Plesko to meet the required State and Federal nutrition guidelines for students according to grade level. As part of the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs we offer students balanced meals that contain five food components – whole grains, meats or meat alternatives, fruit, vegetables and milk. Students at the Middle and High School level participate in “offer vs.serve” in which they have the option to choose from certain meal components (in addition to a fruit or vegetable).
Please be advised that although we try our best to plan and keep to the monthly menu as posted – sometimes we have to modify menu items due to the following –
- Occasionally our distributors make “comparable” substitutions for products, or deliveries are delayed (especially during Covid we are experiencing delays or items that are unavailable)
- We purchase fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms as available which may be after a menu is completed.
- Natural disasters beyond our control, such as power outages or storms that require Food Service to modify the meals offered at the last-minute.
Lettuce Project at the High School
The High School greenhouse is coming to life! With the assistance of the SEA club and HS Science Teacher Janet Kresl Moffat we are piloting a program to grow lettuce and use it in the cafeteria. We also planted basil, cilantro and some cherry tomatoes which will be given to the students in the MS Garden Club for their outdoor garden.
Farm to School
All lunches for the 2022-2023 School Year will be free to all Weston Students
Expected 2023-2024 Prices:
Lunch
Elementary Schools: $3.00
Middle School: $3.60
High School: $3.60
Breakfast
Middle School: $2.00
High School: $2.00
Please visit MySchoolBucks to set up online payments, receive low-balance alerts, monitor account activity and more.
Does your child qualify for free or reduced-priced meals? Visit our Free and Reduced Lunch page for more information about this service and to fill out an application.
Food Allergies
In recent years there have been an increasing number of students diagnosed with food allergies in our school system. In response we are taking precautions to keep our students safe. We communicate with school nurses regularly and have food allergy information for students listed in their lunch account. Ingredient lists are posted daily in each cafeteria and we can provide food labels upon request. Our kitchens are “Nut Aware” meaning that we do not serve any products containing nuts. We provide special lunches for students who have documented food allergies and prepare them in a separate location to prevent cross contamination. All Food Service Staff are ServSafe Certified and have allergy awareness training as required by the state of Massachusetts. We take every precaution to serve healthy, safe, and nutritious meals. We will make accommodations when possible to serve our diverse student body.
Parents or guardians of students with a life threatening food allergy are required to:
- Contact your School Nurse and submit all required medical documentation to them.
- Establish an alternative or back up lunch option with the School Nurse, Kitchen Manager and School Nutritionist.
- If you would like food label information, or need assistance regarding your child’s specific dietary needs, please contact Melanie Plesko, RDN at pleskom@weston.org or (781) 786 – 5292.
Parent Resources
Nut Aware Snack Ideas by parent Kim Smallman, Co-Founder of Weston Food Allergy Community (WFAC). Click here for document.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans – 2020 – 2025 (link below)
https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/consumer-resources
Chop Chop Family – recipes, publications and cooking club (link below)
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
