Child Nutrition for K-12

OFFICE STAFF

Sabrina Kintz, MPH, RD
Child Nutrition Supervisor
Office:651-403-7311
sabrina.kintz@isd197.org

Jeff Wolfer
Child Nutrition Supervisor
P: 651-403-7321
F: 651-403-7304 | jeffrey.wolfer@isd197.org

Kelly Wegener
Administrative Assistant
P: 651-403-7320
F: 651-403-7304 | kelly.wegener@isd197.or g

Summer Meals

Meal Account Payments

The 2025-2026 Application for Educational Benefits is now open! See below for details and apply today.

2025-2026 School Meals Information

The Free School Meals for Kids Program remains in effect for the 2025-26 school year for grades K-12.

This program provides one free breakfast and one free lunch to all students each school day.
The price for adult meals and a la carte items are listed below under the pricing tab.
Additional fruits and vegetables are available to students at no charge.
Households will still need to complete an Application for Educational Benefits to see if they qualify for other important discounts. A new application must be submitted each year.

Fill the Form for Big Savings!

The Application for Educational Benefits can assist in many ways!

Our menu of additional benefits may include:

Free or discounted fees for middle and high school athletics and activities.
Fee waivers for college applications and admissions tests.
Discounted utilities and internet access.
Discounted school fees for band instruments, textbooks, class fees, and more.
Discounts at local museums and more!
Helping the school qualify for education funds and discounts.
Summer grocery money (SUN Bucks)
Apply online here today
See the FAQs below for more details.

Child Nutrition Resources

Application for Educational Benefits & FAQs

Online Application for Educational Benefits

Print Application for Educational Benefits - English

Print Application for Educational Benefits - Spanish

Families must complete a new form each year. Please ensure you are filling out the current year's form for School District 197 or it will not be accepted. Applications for the 2025-26 school year opens on July 1 , 2025.

2025-26 MEAL INFORMATION
While all students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school, it's still important that Applications for Educational Benefits (also known as the “free and reduced-price meal application”) be completed. A school’s eligibility for other MN State food programs is based upon our free and reduced eligibility numbers. Educational benefit data also qualifies our school district for additional state funding that is critical to support the needs of students.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who should complete this application?
Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster, homeless, migrant and runaway children can get free school meals without reporting household income. Alternatively, children can get free school meals if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size on the instructions.

I get WIC or Medical Assistance. Can my children qualify?
Children in households participating in WIC or Medical Assistance do not automatically qualify. Children may be eligible depending on other household financial information. Please fill out an application.

Who should I include as household members?
Include yourself and all other people living in the household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends).

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for your children to complete an application.

What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get overtime only sometimes. For seasonal work, write in the total annual income.

Will the income information or case number I give be checked? It may be. We may also ask you to send written proof.

How will the information be kept? Information you provide on the form, and your child’s approval for meal benefits, will be protected as private data. For more information see the back page of the Application for Educational Benefits.

If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. Please complete an application at any time if your income goes down, your household size goes up, or you start getting SNAP, MFIP or FDPIR benefits.

Other things to note about the application:

Please provide the information requested about children's racial identity and ethnicity, which helps to make sure we are fully serving our community.
The form asks for the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the person who is signing the application, but it is not required. If the signer does not have a Social Security Number, simply check the box on the form that says they do not have one.
Forms must be for the current school year and for the school district in which the child is enrolled. Old forms and forms from other districts will not be accepted in School District 197.

Click here for discounts on local memberships, admission fees and more!

If you have other questions or need help, please call the Child Nutrition Department at 651-403-7320.

School Year Menus

Pricing: Adults Meals and A La Carte Items

Meal Pricing for the 2025-26 School Year:
Due to recent legislation, all students receive one free breakfast and one lunch. Please see pricing below for adult meals and a la carte items.

Adult Meals	Breakfast	Lunch
All schools	$2.75	$5.25

A La Carte Items	All Schools
Carton of Milk or Juice	$0.60
Lunch Entrée	$3.00
Breakfast Entrée	$2.00
Middle & High School Smart Snack Items	Prices Vary

To check your students account balance and/or to deposit money to his/her account, please go to: mypaymentsplus.com/welcome.

Special Diet Statement

School Food Authorities (SFAs) must make reasonable substitutions to meals on a case-by-case basis for children who are considered to have a disability that restricts their diet [7 CFR 210.10(m)]. According to the ADA Amendments Act, most physical and mental impairments will constitute a disability.

SFAs are not required to accommodate special dietary requests that do not constitute a disability, including requests related to religious or moral convictions or personal preference. If these requests are accommodated, SFAs must ensure all USDA meal pattern and nutrient requirements are met.

STEPS FOR COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING A FORM:

1. Download a Special Diet Statement form (below) and have it completed and signed by a medical professional (e.g. a licensed physician, physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse, such as a certified nurse practitioner.) prior to receiving dietary accommodation. Signed documentation from a medical professional, on medical facility letterhead, outlining dietary accommodations is also acceptable.

2. Submit a completed form to the health office at your child's school.

3. The school nurse will review the documentation and may contact parent, medical professional, and/or Child Nutrition with questions.

4. The school nurse will inform the kitchen manager and child’s teacher about the special diet request, along with directions for the diet, as needed.

Parent/guardian is responsible for providing a new special diet statement if there are any updates or changes to the current dietary form on file. It is not necessary to provide a new special diet statement every school year if there are no dietary changes. Any medications involved with allergies require an annual medical doctor’s signature.

In the case of food allergies or diabetes, parents/guardians may also want to notify their child’s teacher, school age care staff and others who should know to ensure child’s safety during school and school-sponsored activities.

Note: Parents may provide a written request for lactose-reduced milk if their child is lactose intolerant without a physician’s signature.

Special Diet Statement

Declaración de dieta especial

First page of the PDF file: SpecialDietStatement-Spanish1

District Wellness Policy

Local Wellness Policy: Triennial Assessment Report

Links & Resources

Heritage Students Explore Minnesota-Grown Foods Through Farm-to-School Program — Watch the Video

This fall, during lunch at Heritage E-Stem Magnet School, students are getting the chance to enjoy a new farm-to-school tasting—featuring Minnesota-grown edamame on the salad bar and a tasting table with locally inspired recipes. Students will get to sample each dish and vote for their favorites!

The new food options are made possible by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's First Bite Grant, which helps schools introduce students to more Minnesota-grown foods.

The video below was created by students in What’s Happening at Heritage, an elective course introduced last year as part of the middle school’s updated schedule. In the class, students share stories that capture life and learning at Heritage by producing multimedia segments for a morning update show. For this project, they created a video to introduce and explain the Minnesota-grown foods featured in the farm-to-school tasting.

Employment Opportunities

The Child Nutrition Program is looking for individuals that enjoy serving children and are willing to work in a clean, fast paced, teamwork oriented environment. Substitute and Regular Kitchen Assistant positions are available for the current school year. This is an excellent opportunity to have a flexible schedule and be at home with your children. Please visit the School District 197 Child Nutrition Employment page to see available positions. Contact the Child Nutrition Office at (651) 403-7320 for more information about joining the team!

The School District 197 Child Nutrition Department is committed to providing nutritious, high-quality meals that appeal to children, help them stay healthy, and give them the energy they need to be successful in the classroom.

All School District 197 schools participate in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.