The planning behind school lunches

You are what you eat: that is the motto many school districts around Southern Colorado follow to ensure their students are eating healthy meals.

“We believe what they eat really makes a difference in the classroom,” dietician Jamie Humphrey said. “It fuels their brain, it fuels their body and gets them ready for learning.”

Jamie Humphrey is the dietitian at Colorado Springs District 11. She helps plan the menu for 20,000 meals served in the district every day.

“We always try to offer kid favorites like pizza but we try to make them a healthier version by offering whole grain pizza crust with homemade sauce and low-fat mozzarella cheese,” Humphrey said.

District 11 places a big emphasis on homemade and healthy foods at schools, as does District 60 in Pueblo.

“The menus are nutrient-analyzed and have to meet very strict regulations about portion size and nutrient content,” dietitian Jill Kidd said.

Both districts switched to a more healthy menu years ago, even before federal regulations went into effect.

They stress the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables and have a variety of options for students to choose from.

But it’s more than just nutrition, it’s about safety.

“Some students have dietary needs, like lactose intolerance, so we try to provide tools so parents can work with their children to choose options that work for them,” Humphrey said.

Those tools include comprehensive online menus with allergens and nutrients listed so parents can make sure their children avoid certain foods.

But if the child has what’s called a “dietary disability,” like a life-threatening allergy or Celiac disease, most districts will take special precautions.

“Parents fill out paperwork with the doctors and we are able to make special meals that fit their needs in District 11,” Humphrey said. “We try to keep them similar to the food other kids are getting so no one feels left out.”

That customization has been a true life-saver for moms like Marie Pizzolatto. She has eight children with different dietary needs, some life-threatening.

“If you have cross contact, sometimes it can send you to the hospital or it can even be deadly,” she said.

She had to take one of her children to the hospital because of a reaction to a food, so she knows the terrifying feeling first hand.

“Thankfully, D-11 has been so careful and we’ve never had an issue,” Pizzolatto said.

There are about 150 kids with dietary needs that D-11 creates special needs for on a regular basis.

Pueblo City Schools will also buy items specifically for the students that need it and make accommodations to keep them safe.

To view the Pueblo City Schools’ menus, download the app “Nutrislice” and select your school.

To view the District 11 menus, click here.