School Lunch
- Menus and Nutritional Information
- Contact
- School Lunch Cost
- Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch
- Chef Bridget’s Corner
- News
Menus and Nutritional Information
- March High School Lunch Menu
- March K-8 Lunch Menu- Updated March 3
- March K-8 Lunch Menu Nutritional Information
If you have any questions or suggestions, the Foodservice Office is open all school days from 7am -3:30pm. Our phone number is 781-393-2241 and fax number is 781-393-2224.
Jeanne Irwin
Director of Foodservice
Cost of School Lunch 2009-2010
The cost of food and related supplies has increased significantly, so the cost of school lunch will increase by 35 cents at all levels this year. Lunch at the elementary level will cost $2.35 while lunch in grades 6-12 will cost $2.85. The cost of breakfast will increase to $1.00. The cost of milk will also increase to 50 cents per carton. Medford has not raised its milk price in eight years and the price is the lowest in the area. These costs increases are necessary to continue to make our school lunch program self-sustaining.
Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch
About Chef Bridget
My name is Bridget Collins and I have been a resident of Medford, MA for 15 years. My daughter Kerry is in the eighth grade at the Andrews School and my older daughter, Aine, is currently a senior at Medford High School.
I have been a professional chef for twenty years cooking for restaurants, caterers, and a country club and teaching adult education cooking classes. During the past twelve years, I had been employed at Fidelity Investments in Boston as a pastry chef in the Executive Kitchen preparing unique, healthy and nutritious baked goods while incorporating whole grains and limiting the use of refined sugar and harmful fats.
Throughout my employment I had been fortunate to attend many seminars, workshops and conferences and am currently a member of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, Massachusetts Public Health Association and Oldways Preservation Trust. These conferences were instrumental in my decision to expand my career options. I was exposed to information about childhood obesity and the health crisis facing our nation (such as the dangers of diabetes and heart disease) and what role diet and exercise play in cure and prevention.
I am currently enrolled at the National Institute of Whole Health working towards a certification in Nutritional Counseling.
I have a true passion for food, health and nutrition and enjoy raising awareness and educating others on these topics. I look forward to contributing my experience, skill and knowledge to my community as the Chef/Nutritional Coordinator for the Medford, MA
Public Schools.
- Chef Bridget
Fall 2009 Update from Chef Bridget
The new school year is well under way and we have had a month to introduce and get accustomed to the many changes that began in Medford School Food Service. Most parents and guardians are aware by now, due to the tough economic times, it was necessary to raise the prices of the school lunch, breakfast and milk. The snack prices at the middle and high schools were also raised. The price of a school lunch in grades K-5 is $2.35. The price for lunch in grades 6-12 is $2.85. The breakfast is now $1.00 and a carton of milk costs .50. Reduced breakfast remains .30 and reduced lunch remains .40. Applications for those who are eligible for free and reduced meals can be obtained and are accepted at any time in the Food Service office at the High School. The office phone is 781-393-2241
In addition to our new lunch prices, the K-8 students are also required to visit the cashier before entering the lunch line. The children now have both hands free to take their milk and fruit choices and to safely hold their tray instead of balancing their payment and their food. The result so far: less accidents and more complete lunches making it back to the tables. This new method also enables our cashiers to accurately account for the paid, free and reduced lunches as well as ensuring that every child who needs to eat will receive a lunch.
Our menus have also undergone some changes. The breakfast and lunch menus are citywide; meaning every school in Medford serves the same thing on the same day. The breakfast menu is a set menu, offering one choice per day, with all three components included in the price of breakfast. The lunch menu offers a hot entrée of the day, as well as three alternatives each day. The alternate choices run for an entire week, featuring hot homemade pizza, a sandwich or a “grab & go” salad in a clear plastic container (w/ a protein topping, wheat roll and low fat dressing.) This means that the student has a minimum of four choices for lunch each day.
The Medford Food Service staff does an amazing job preparing approximately 1,800 meals a day with many scratch cooked items on our monthly menu. Some of our scratch cooked offerings in September were Honey Baked Carrots, Yogurt & Granola Parfaits with blueberries, Tex-Mex Rotini Pasta, Roasted Zucchini, Chicken Tacos, and Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with homemade vinaigrette dressing.
Medford participated in Massachusetts Farm to School Week (September 21st through 25th) by ordering and serving some choice local produce. Our menu featured locally grown apples, pears, peaches and zucchini.
I began working a two-week rotation at every school this year and will be able to work at each school three times before the school year closes. Starting in September at the McGlynn School, I was able to sample a few recipes and menu ideas with the middle school students. When a new recipe is tested, I serve samples out in the cafeteria and ask the students for their feedback and constructive criticism. The “Healthy” Brownies were a big hit, even though the fat and sugar contents were reduced by incorporating applesauce, and the fiber content was increased due to the use of whole wheat flour. The students were very excited to try the Bacon and Egg Baked Omelet. They enjoyed it so much that we are featuring it on this October menu. Another recipe that the students had a chance to try was the Spanish Rice and Beef Burrito. This recipe was suggested and created by Maureen Hennigan, the lead cook and manager at the McGlynn School. She has been making it for her own family for years, so I just helped her adjust the recipe from 5 to 500 portions! That yummy recipe will also appear on the menu later in October.
Once a month, we like to feature a treat for the children on the menu. Since we try our best to adhere to Medford’s city Wellness Policy, the treat will be representative of those policy guidelines. Last month we offered a 100% fruit juice-frozen pop with every school lunch in the place of the fruit component. This month, we will offer a 1-ounce fresh baked chocolate chip cookie with every lunch. If your child brings their lunch from home or only purchases milk from the cafeteria, they can still purchase a cookie from the lunch line for .25. Each child can only receive ONE cookie, however.
Our food is fresh, flavorful and fun. It is prepared safely and with great care.
We are food service professionals, despite the stereotypical “lunch lady” image. Please encourage your child to try school lunch, again. I hope that they are pleasantly surprised.
- Chef Bridget
Nutrition Nuggets Newsletter