Food Service
A lunch and breakfast program is available at all District 123 schools.
Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 has partnered with Whitsons Culinary Group to offer nutritious, healthy food options to all students. Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 participates in the USDA sponsored National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and all meals and snacks served meet or exceed the standards required by these programs. We are committed to providing a highly customized service specifically designed to meet the needs of the students, parents, and staff of Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123.
All meals are planned to provide nourishment and variety. Every meal follows the nutritional guidelines set forth by the National School Lunch Program. Dietary specifications, based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, set specific calorie ranges, sodium restriction, saturated fat <10% total calories, zero trans fat, and minimum meal components to ensure age-appropriate meals for grades K-5 and 6-8 over the week. Meals include 1-2 ounce equivalents of protein, 1-2 ounce equivalents of whole grains, 3/4 cup vegetables, 1/2 cup fruit, and 8 fl. ounces of milk.
Families of students who qualify under federal income guidelines may obtain free or reduced breakfast or lunches for their children.
The Arbor nutrition team includes professional chefs, registered dietitians, and experienced foodservice managers who work in synergy to develop healthy, balanced meals that are created fresh with quality ingredients that students enjoy. Our registered dietitians utilize strategies supported by sound nutrition science as the framework for menu planning. Arbor chefs put a creative, healthy spin on scratch recipes. Our goal is to replace processed foods with whole foods and fresh ingredients.
Arbor provides an environment for students to learn how to create healthy meals from a wide variety of options. Our chef created, dietitian approved meals provide a guide modeling the most current nutrition guidelines. Dietitian led nutrition education programs allow for unique, interactive student engagement such as “Dietitians Test Kitchens”, “Ask the Dietitian” lunch booths, classroom presentations, and wellness fair activities. Nutrition education is reinforced with vivid displays, nutrition & wellness flyers, activity sheets, fruit and veggie of the month, and monthly nutritional newsletters. Our Corporate Dietitian is available to answer questions via the Arbor website at www.arbormgt.com , “Ask a Dietitian”. We make it easy for students and parents to be confident about their health and wellness knowledge.
Students are encouraged to explore new foods with tastings and display cooking to spark student taste buds and curiosity with healthy options. Rotating fresh garden bars introduce students to a wide assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables while encouraging them to experiment with different combinations. Arbor’s nutrition team allows students to personalize and create their own balanced meals through “Build Your Own” food bars and featured recipes. Creative dishes inspire students to expand their palates.
Food Allergen Information
For additional information regarding the District 123 Food Allergy Program, please contact your school office or Donna Urchell (durchell@d123.org) Arbor Food Service Manager at 708-499-6400 ext. 4305
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