West Ottawa... Food For Thought

Join us to taste test a slice of grapefruit at lunch on Friday, January 24th!

Grapefruit is PACKED with vitamin C & vitamin A which helps boost your immune system.

Healthy tip: Instead of scooping it out of the peel with a spoon to eat. Try peeling it like an orange so you are eating the pith. The pith is the stringy, spongy white stuff between the peel and the fruit. It is loaded with fiber and more nutrients!

The food service department is celebrating National Milk Day on January 10th!

Nutritional Benefits of Dairy:

• High in protein

• Helps with growth & building muscles

• High in calcium

• Strengthens bones, teeth, & blood vessel walls

• Fortified with Vitamin D which your body needs to absorb calcium

No, they can vary greatly!

Soy Milk & Pea Milk = Closest plant-based alternatives to cow’s milk (high in protein)

Almond Milk, Oat Milk, Cashew Milk, Coconut Milk, & Rice Milk = Low protein & varying nutrients

If we have a snow day, the school meals for the day your student returns to school will not follow the scheduled menu, but will likely be the meal that was supposed to be served on the snow day (or the first snow day if there are multiple). To limit waste, we will serve the food we have already prepared.

For example, if a snow day falls on a Tuesday, the scheduled Tuesday meal becomes the Wednesday meal. We eliminate Wednesday meal that week and resume the menu as normally scheduled beginning Thursday.

If there are too many snow days in a row and the food is no longer safe to eat, then we will resume with the current menu.

You get vitamin C from the foods you eat — mainly, fruits and vegetables!

For the most nutrients, choose fruits and vegetables that are in season. During the winter, frozen fruit and veggies are a great option because it is frozen at the peak of ripeness and without added sugars (compared to canned).

1. Citrus fruits: Oranges, kiwi, grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, grapefruit, ect..
2. Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, ect..
3. White Potatoes
4. Peppers: Red bell peppers have 1.5 times more vitamin C than their green!
5. Berries
6. Cantaloupe
7. Tomatoes

Served in Classroom:

Woodside: 8 - 9am

Pine Creek: 8:15am

Sheldon Woods: 8:30am

North Holland: 8:20am

Great Lakes: 8:30am

Lakeshore: 8:30 - 9:15am

Served in Cafeteria:

Waukazoo: 8:30am

Lakewood: 8:10 - 8:45am

Served at breakfast cart or cafeteria:

Harbor Lights Middle School: 7:15 - 8am

Macatawa Bay Middle School: 7:15 - 8:10am

High School North: 7:15 - 7:45am

High School South: 7:15 - 8am

Click this link: https://westottawa.familyportal.cloud/

Visit our menu at https://www.westottawa.net/wops-food-service/

Under the "MENUS AND PRICES" section

If your student has a food allergy that you would like the food service department aware of or they are needing special meal accommodations, please email the district dietitian at herweyere@westottawa.net to learn more!

In order to make special meal accommodations this Special Meal Request Form will need to be completed and signed by your students doctor.

Email general questions to heemstrar@westottawa.net

Website: https://www.westottawa.net/wops-food-service/

1. You can add funds into your students account through our new food service Meal Magic Family Portal https://westottawa.familyportal.cloud/
2. Your student can bring cash OR a check to the register in the cafeteria and a food service staff member can deposit it on to your students account.

Our Assistant Director, Noelle, has a culinary degree and can help you with all your catering needs! Email Noelle at whitlatchn@westottawa.net or call her office at 616-786-2109.