Click on "My Pyramid" to explore the new food pyramid!

The Food Service Department is proud to play an important role in providing students with a nutritious meal each school day. Our mission is to provide high quality, fresh wholesome foods and nutritionally balanced and appealing menu selections to every Saint Thomas Academy student.  To help students make informed decisions we pledge to provide clear and simple information and education on individual responsibility and the relationship of eating at school and ensuring proper health and wellness.  One of our specific goals is to provide students a properly balanced meal that is appealing to students' tastes every day.

Nutrition Statement

Eating fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce the risk for many health problems including:  stroke, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, as well as certain kinds of cancer including colon-rectum, mouth and stomach cancer.  Fruits and vegetables which are rich in potassium may also reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and may help to decrease bone loss.
Bread selections will feature items made from whole grains offered in white and wheat variations.  Sandwich buns will also be made with whole grains.  Milk selections range from skim and 1%  to fat free chocolate milk. 
Desserts are considered a treat with lunch, and have been limited on the menu. We will offer healthier treat selections including unique fruits, dried fruits, frozen juice bars, fruit smoothies, and cookies baked with fruit and whole grains.  

On-going foodservice activities include increased education to all students on proper portion sizes of food products, the limited use of certain fat-free or reduced calorie products which may contain higher amounts of processed sugars, as well as reduction of processed food items. 

In order to help students make sense of serving sizes and compare the proper portion of fruits and vegetables, here are some everyday examples to help choose the correct amount:

• ½  cup of vegetables = 7 or 8 baby carrots or 1 ear of corn on the cob
• ½ cup cooked broccoli = a light bulb
• 1 cup salad greens = a baseball
• ¼ cup of raisins = a large egg
• 1 medium apple = a tennis ball
• ½ cup fresh fruit = 7 cotton balls

Food for Life

Our commitment to natural, organic and a sustainable future is featured in our latest wellness initiative Food 4 Life.  This program promotes local and regionally grown fruit and vegetables, natural food products, expanded selections of vegetarian options, organic, unprocessed and preservative free foods whenever feasible.
Every day our body requires a certain amount of energy from carbohydrates, protein and fats to function properly. Because no single food provides all of the nutrients our body needs, eating a variety of foods ensures that we get all of the necessary nutrients and other substances associated with good health.
Good nutrition and physical activity are two essential parts necessary for the long-term health of our customers. Healthy eating is demonstrably linked to reduced risk for mortality and development of many chronic diseases.

Taher, Inc. is committed to providing it’s customers with foods that are fresh and of high quality.   To this end, we will offer food products which are minimally processed, while allowing our customers to increase the consumption of natural fibers and other natural ingredients while decreasing caloric intake, saturated fat, trans-fatty acids, added sugars and artificial ingredients.

We constantly seek new recipes and products which mirror our commitment for culinary excellence by combining nutrition and taste.  All of our products meet strict nutrition guidelines which include the use of only non-hydrogenated oils in our fryers, minimizing the intake of trans-fatty acids for our customers and the reduction of products containing high fructose corn syrup as a primary ingredient.

We incorporate fresh, regionally grown fruit or produce, organic, unprocessed, and preservative free foods whenever feasible.  Our menus our analyzed for nutrient balance and each of our recipes must meet our stringent standards promoting the well being of our customers.  We will encourage the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains in their natural forms, such as wild rice, barley, quinoa, couscous, and long grain rice.
Our Food 4 Life flyer published quarterly by our Wellness and Nutrition Department, will feature articles of interest geared toward all our customers.  Each issue incorporates tips on healthy lifestyles, nutrition myths, environmental issues, new food trends and will feature seasonal promotions.
Taher, Inc., providing Food 4 Life!

Cooking Methods

In order to meet standard nutritional requirements of our meals, we use specific steps when preparing food items. Ground Beef is rinsed and drained after cooking to skim off fat.  When possible we will use ground turkey in place of ground beef as a healthy alternative.  All food products which may be typically deep fried, (examples include chicken nuggets, chicken patties, popcorn chicken) are baked in ovens.  When we do deep fry, we use a trans fat free frying oil. We steam, sauté or oven roast vegetables rather than boiling and we do not add butter or margarine when cooking.  In some specific cases when sautéing vegetables, the use of healthier oil like canola, olive or grape seed oil may be used.  Seasonings are limited to herbs or spices, pepper and zests rather than salt or sodium flavored sauces.

Nutritional Analysis

We have included a Nutritional Analysis of your favorite menu items.  Students and parents can use this data to help make the best choices for a well balanced diet.
Click here to view and print the nutritional analysis of everyday favorites.

Harvest of the Month

Month Fruit Vegetable September Cherries Tomatoes October Local Apple Harvest String Beans November Seckel Pear Broccoli December Clementine Winter Squash January Blood Orange Carrots February Kiwi Potatoes March Pineapple Sweet Peppers April Grapes Cucumbers May Apricots Spring Salad Greens June Nectarine Onions July Papaya Beets August Melons Cabbage Our “Harvest of the Month” program promotes different fruits, vegetables and grains throughout the school year.  We provide fun facts and nutrition information and will serve it at least one day during that month. Click on a food to learn more about it!