PPS Food Service Menu Page

 Contact information is on the Department Home Page.

ACCESS TO ALL LUNCH MENUS FROM ELEMENTARY LUNCH MENU LINK TO THE RIGHT.

Portland Public Schools has demonstrated a significant commitment to providing our students with healthy and wholesome food.  In the past five years, Portland has increased the nutrition content of foods and increased the proportion of local foods offered in schools while still working within school budget limitations.  Eight of Portland’s Elementary schools have been awarded Healthier US Schools Challenge Bronze Awards, which recognize excellence in the school food with menus that meet nutrition standards above and beyond federal and state requirements.

Portland Public Schools does not purchase ground beef products that contain “Lean Finely Textured Beef” (LFTB).  Portland purchases pre-cooked beef burgers from a national company that does not use LFTB.  In addition, growing portions of Portland’s ground beef purchases are from local companies committed to natural and sustainable farming practices.  In the last few years Portland’s school lunch program has featured burgers from The Maine Grind in Portland, Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, and Wolfe’s Neck Farm in Freeport.

Unlike most other school districts in the country, Portland does not purchase ground beef from the USDA School Commodities Market.  PPS is a “Cash in Lieu of Commodities” district.  This means that all USDA food dollars are received in cash that can be spent with any vendor rather than being locked into commodities foods.  Portland is one of only 30 school districts in the country to have this distinction.  This enables Portland to purchase more food from local companies and gives us more flexibility to access the best products for our students at the best prices.

MAINE HARVEST LUNCH FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Elementary students in the Portland Public Schools will enjoy Maine-grown foods as part of school lunch during Maine Harvest Lunch week (September 19-23).

The Portland Public Schools has participated in Maine Harvest Lunch since 2008.  In the past year, the district has increased the amount of local food incorporated into its school lunch menu with support from the Communities Putting Prevention to Work Obesity Grant.  Grant funds have allowed the district to train staff and purchase the equipment necessary to procure and process local produce in season for consumption throughout the school year.

Many Portland schools are participating in Maine Harvest Lunch by growing food in their school gardens.  Longfellow and Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) grew potatoes that will be served as part of Maine Harvest Lunch meals across the district.   East End Community School is harvesting greens and other produce that will be included in the school’s fruit and vegetable bar.

MENU FEATURES BY DAY FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS:

MONDAY-

Hamburgers supplied by Maine Grind from animals raised in the Dover-Foxcroft area.  This is a 100% local beef patty that supports farmers and food production in that area.

Blueberries today are from Wyman’s and are grown in Washington County.  They are harvested over the summer, frozen and served for you today!

TUESDAY-

The Beefy Meat Sauce with pasta today is made from local tomatoes, zucchini, shredded carrots and garlic scapes.  Scapes are the flower blossom of the garlic plant that we grind up into the sauce instead of using powdered garlic.  The local vegetables help reduce the sodium content of the menu.  The tossed salad has local greens from Snell Family Farm in York County and Jordan Family farm in Cape Elizabeth. 

WEDNESDAY-

Todays menu features Baked Haddock from the icy cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. The haddock  was purchased fresh from Cozy Harbor,a local vendor.  Many of you tried this last Friday and 70% of the students at East End liked it. It is oven baked with a cracker crumb topping.  The red potatoes are diced and roasted.  They are from Mars Hill Maine in Aroostock County.   The apples are from Ricker Hill Orchards in Cumberland County.  Our cucumbers today were purchased locally from the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project (NASAP).  A program through Cultivating Community and supported by the USDA and the Office of Refugee Resettlement.  http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/219765.html 

THURSDAY-

Today we have Chili and Cheese made with different dry beans from Exeter, Maine along with garlic scapes, zucchini, tomatoes and peppers from local farms to reduce the sodium.  Corn on the cob was shucked as class projects at Longfellow and East End schools earlier this week. It was grown at Belanger’s Farm in Lewiston Maine.  The tossed salad has local greens from Snell Family Farm in York County and Jordan Family farm in Cape Elizabeth.  The strawberries were harvested in July from Fair Winds Farm in Bowdoin, Maine.  We washed and froze them for today’s lunch and smoothies in October.

FRIDAY-

 PRICE CHANGES FOR 2011-2012

BREAKFAST $1.25 PAID K-12, FREE/REDUCED BOTH GET FREE BREAKFAST

LUNCH $2.35 PAID K-5, $2.50 GRADES 6-12, $0.40 REDUCED 

Milk choices included with every meal

Extra MILK $0.50-8OZ CARTON, $0.75 10 OZ BOTTLE                    

Staff and Vistors - $1.50 breakfast, $4 Lunch

Fruit and Vegetable bar included with all meals - students choose from fresh vegetables, tossed salad, fresh and chilled fruit options.  Actual options will vary each day.

More local foods all month:

Local carrots, romaine lettuce, pesto pizza, local burgers, garlic scapes, haddock from Bristol Seafood, cranberry beans, red potatoes!

The new phone calling system call any families that owe money for meals twice a week.  If you receive a call, please send money to cover the IOU as soon as possible PLUS money to pay ahead for the rest of the week.  If you have questions, your school kitchen team leader can print off a statement for the account for you to review.  It will be sent home with your student.

Meal Benefit Applications can be completed anytime you have a change in family income.  Please mail them to us at 28 Homestead Avenue for quickest processing. 

Any family that owes more than $10 will receive a bill in the student papers on Thursday and Fridays.  Please send money to cover the IOU and the next week's meals on Monday. 

If you have questions about your account, you can email the Team Leader at each school to get a sales report, please review it and we can follow-up with you for clarification.

This week the Portland Public Schools elementary schools will be celebrating Maine Harvest Lunch with over 300 other schools around the state.  This project, a collaboration between the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, Farm Fresh Connection, Communities Promoting Health at PROP, and the Portland Public Schools Food Service, began as a vision to link schools with local farms. 

Tuesday

Pasta with meat sauce using local tomatoes and zucchini in the sauce.

Middle Schools have Organic Musk Melon from Checkerberry Farm in Parkman.

Wednesday-

Corn on the Cob from R. Belanger & Sons in Lewiston;

Grass-Fed Beef Burgers from Pineland Farms;

Mixed lettuce from Snell’s Farm in Buxton,

Carrots grown in the Longfellow Elementary School

Blueberries from Wyman’s.

Thursday-

4 Bean Chili using dry beans from The Beanery in Exeter,

Zucchini and tomatoes from Farm Fresh Connections, and

Assorted apples from the Meyerhans, Manchester;

Friday-

Local pizza with whole grain crust from Amato’s Bakery,

Diced red potatoes from Mars Hill and Longfellow Elementary School

With Broccoli spears from Snells Family Farm, Buxton

Cherry Tomatoes from White Oak Farm, Warren

As always, milk is provided by Oakhurst Dairy!

Benefits of incorporating local foods into school lunches are numerous.  Buying locally puts money back in the Maine economy.  Because locally grown food is raised for taste rather than durability during transport, Maine grown food tastes better.  Fresher foods from local producers translate to healthy eating and ultimately better learning.  Furthermore, introducing students to the importance of buying locally strengthens the community, by creating connections between the food we eat and where it is grown.

In 2009-1020, PPS Food Services purchased $280,000 in local products including dairy products – 21.6% of our food budget.  In 2007-2008, the amount was $0.  New this year is produce from some of our school gardens.  Longfellow School harvested beautiful carrots which are on the tossed salad this week as well as potatoes to go with broccoli and cheese sauce.

Thanks to all that helped shuck corn at Riverton and East End!!

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color,national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to

USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,

1400 Independence Ave, SW, Wash. DC 20250-9410

or call 800-795-3272 or(202) 720-6387(TTY).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.