West Ottawa... Food For Thought
January 2023 - WOPS Food Service News
National Milk Day - January 11th
Milk, cheese, & yogurt are great sources of dairy!
Nutritional Benefits of Dairy:
High in protein
Helps with growth & building muscles
High in calcium
Strengthens bones, teeth, & blood vessel walls
- Fortified with Vitamin D which your body needs to absorb calcium
Try Day Friday - January 26th
Plantains
Join us on January 26th to sample baked plantains!
What are plantains? They look like bananas, but they are less sweet and starchier. Plantains are regularly eaten in tropical countries and are usually cooked before eaten.
Nutrition Tip: Some people think they are similar to a potato, however, they are higher in vitamins and minerals like fiber, vitamin A, C, B, magnesium, and potassium than potatoes!
How to cook? Make them sweet with cinnamon and sugar or make them savory with oil, salt, & pepper. Cook them in the oven, air fryer, or deep fry.
Tropical Day - January 31st
Nutrition Tip: Kiwi & pineapple are packed with vitamin C, which makes them fantastic fruits to be eating to fight off sickness during this winter season!
How to eat them?
Kiwi: You can eat the brown fuzzy skin! Simply wash, cut, and eat. The skin is packed with fiber which is great for your gut health! If you do not want the skin, you can peel it off or scoop the green inside out of the skin with a spoon.
Pineapple: Cut the skin off the outer shell and eat the yellow inside
Nutrition Talks with a Registered Dietitian
While some form of nutrition is discussed in the classroom, some students have had the opportunity to hear and learn even more about importance of the food that we eat. Thanks to Elizabeth Herweyer, West Ottawa’s District Registered Dietitian, opportunities of nutrition education for students are happening more often. Since November, she has been able to talk with several elementary classes and middle & high school health classes.
These nutrition-based talks have included topics from how MyPlate food groups impact the body’s functions along with additional discussions on healthy snack ideas. Prepared fruit, veggie, grain, & protein samples are brought into the classroom and distributed throughout the presentation, so students have a hands-on representation of the foods discussed and are able to test taste them.
We encourage you to help your students learn more about food & nutrition! You can start by discussing the nutrition information shared in this newsletter each month. If you are looking for more tools, go to https://www.myplate.gov/.
What makes a full meal?
- Grain
- Meat/meat alternate
- Fruit
- Vegetable
- Milk
Student Meal Applications
Fill out a virtual meal application at https://westottawa.familyportal.cloud/
How do I deposits funds into my students meal account?
- You can add funds into your students account through our new food service Meal Magic Family Portal https://westottawa.familyportal.cloud/
- Your student can bring cash OR a check to the register in the cafeteria and a food service staff member can deposit it on to your students account.
What if my student needs special dietary accommodations or has a food allergy?
Student Special Dietary Need:
The first step is to have the Michigan Department of Education’s special meal request form completed and signed by your students doctor.
Once the above form is filled out, please email it to Elizabeth Herweyer at herweyere@westottawa.net. You will be contacted by the food service department to ensure that we provide the correct meals for your student.
Student Allergy:
If your student has a food allergy that you would like to make us aware of but does not need to be provided with special meals, please contact Elizabeth Herweyer at herweyere@westottawa.net. We can put an alert in our register system that will not allow your student to “check out” with their meal until our staff has acknowledged your students food allergy and ensured that their meal is free from that allergen.
What's on the Menu?
Visit our menu at https://www.westottawa.net/wops-food-service/
Email general questions to heemstrar@westottawa.net
Website: https://www.westottawa.net/wops-food-service/
Phone: (616)786-2101
Twitter: @wofdsvc
Did you know that West Ottawa Food Service does catering?
Our Assistant Director, Noelle, has a culinary degree and can help you with all your catering needs! Email Noelle at whitlatchn@westottawa.net or call her office at 616-786-2109.
West Ottawa Food Services Monthly Newsletters with Up Coming Events and News!