The School Food Service (SFS) Department serves as a resource for parents across Palm Beach County who have children with special dietary needs. Parents have access to valuable information regarding the foods offered through the school cafeterias, and because of this, many students with a documented food allergy or intolerance are able to enjoy meals throughout the school year.

Students with Disabilities

USDA regulations require that substitutions or modifications be made in school meals for students whose disabilities restrict their diets.  Food allergies that are life threatening are defined as a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  An example would be a food allergy resulting in an anaphylactic reaction.

Students with Non-Life Threatening Food Allergy or Other Special Dietary Needs

USDA permits a School Food Service Department to make a food substitution, at their discretion, for individual children who do not have a disability, but who are medically certified as having a special medical or dietary need.  We will accommodate any reasonable request for students without a disability; however, all modifications are individually based and are determined by School Food Service registered dietitians.

In order for a meal modification to be made, the request must be supported by a statement explaining the requested food substitution and must be signed by a recognized medical authority.  Statements must include:

•   Medical diagnosis that requires the dietary modification
•   The foods to be omitted from the child’s diet
•   The foods to be substituted

This information is necessary for the School Food Service Department to be able to accurately make a modification to a student’s meal in any manner.

For more information on providing meal modifications, please contact the School Food Service Office – Nutrition Services Team.

Allergens and Food Sensitivity

Please visit our web-based menu platform Nutrislice and use the "Filter Special Diets" feature.  This feature will allow you to filter the menu based on the allergen to be avoided.

USDA FNS Non-Discrimination Statement