School Lunches and snacks

Lunch

• Students should bring a packed lunch to school.
• Microwaves are not available for students age 2 and up. Please send foods conducive to being served cold. Lunches will be refrigerated until eaten.
• Two snacks per day are provided.
• We are a nut-free school due to a severely allergic student. Please do not send peanut butter, peanuts, or other nuts to school.
• Hotdogs, raw carrots, popcorn, fish with bones and grapes shall not be served to children younger than 3 years of age. Children older than 3 years of age may be served these foods provided they are cut into small pieces to minimize the risk of choking.
• Food and drink with little or no nutritional value, i.e. sweets, soft drinks, etc. will only be served on special occasions and only in addition to the required nutritional meals and snacks.
• Pizza Fridays are available optionally at $13 monthly. Money is due to the front office no later than the last Thursday of each month. The front office does not have change for $20 or other bills; correct change or checks must be provided.

Hot Lunch

As a small school, The Learning Academy has been unable to provide a hot lunch due to the cost, as well as logistical concerns.

Infants

Bottles are stored in the refrigerator in a bin marked with your child’s name. Please put all of your child’s bottles and food, dated and labeled with contents & amount, in this bin. Bottles must come in prepared to be consumed (we will not mix formula) and are discarded 24 hours after they have been prepared. Bottles are warmed in a crock-pot. After a bottle has been warmed, it cannot be re-refrigerated or re-heated. Doing so increases the chance of contamination from bacteria. We can only offer the bottle to the infant for one hour after it has been warmed. After that time, the contents of the bottle will be discarded.

When your child is ready to begin eating more solid food during the day, please specify to your child’s teacher what they will be eating, how much they should be eating, and when they should eat. Parents provide all baby foods and cereal.

Waddling Ones

The Learning Academy provides a morning snack and an afternoon snack to your child. You are responsible for bringing your child’s lunch each day. Pizza Fridays are an option for those who wish to purchase pizza for $5. Please see the front office.

As infants become more independent, they may become increasingly interested in feeding themselves. This usually occurs between 8-10 months. When your child seems interested in finger foods, please speak with your child’s teacher. Below are some finger foods your older infant and young toddler may enjoy:

• Sliced fresh fruit (skins and pits removed)
• Soft vegetables
• Mashed potatoes
• Cheerios
• Cooked rice or pasta
• Whole grain breads and toast
• Waffles, French toast, pancakes
• Low-salt crackers
• Cheese slices
• Cottage cheese or yogurt
• Macaroni & cheese
• Small slices of very soft meat, chicken, or fish without bones

Foods to avoid:

• Sugared foods & drinks
• Nuts (we are a nut-free school, including peanuts and peanut butter)
• Popcorn
• Honey
• Raisins
• Hotdogs
• Grapes
• Hard candy
• Hard pretzels or chips
• Marshmallows
• Large chunks of meat