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Meal Accommodations

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Food Allergies & Special Dietary Needs

A severe food allergy is defined as a dangerous or life threatening reaction to a food-borne allergen introduced by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact that requires immediate medical attention. Reasonable meal accommodations will be made for students who have the following:

  1. Medical disability that restricts his/her diet and
  2. The disability is supported by a medical statement signed by a State licensed healthcare professional or registered dietitian.

Non-medical disabilities or special dietary needs may be accommodated by the Food and Nutrition Services department as long as a reimbursable meal is served. 

How to Request Meal Accommodations

1. Complete and turn-in the FARE Food Allergy Packet and/or FANS Meal Accomodations Request Form (linked below).

  • If submitting the FARE Food Allergy Packet, turn it in to your campus nurse, who will forward it to FANS.
  • If submitting only the FANS form, you may email it directly to Marissa Bell, MPH, RD, Dietitian & Marketing Coordinator at bellm@ltisdschools.org.

2. The FANS registered dietitian will contact the parent/guardian to determine needed meal accommodations.

3. If the Cafe needs to make approved special items for your student, you must let the Cafe manager know by 9 am the day-of service if your student will need a meal.

4. Utilize the allergens/attributes filter on the online menus to help your student plan their menu selections. 

5. Contact Marissa Bell, MPH, RD with any questions or concerns.  bellm@ltisdschools.org |  512-533-6038

Important Documents:

"This (Food Allergy Management Plan) is an amazing document, I am so impressed how complete and thorough it is.  [LTISD's] dedication to the health and well being of [its] food allergy students is clearly evident.  The parents should all feel greatly reassured by this document.  The training to include bus drivers goes above and beyond most districts I know of." 

- Dr. Allen K. Lieberman, Austin Family Allergy and Asthma

Food Allergy Management in LT Cafés

Nutrition and Allergen Information
  • Nutrition and allergen information for all products served in LT Cafés is reviewed and updated annually.
Food Allergy Training
  • All LT Café staff receive training on food allergies and are equipped to safely serve students with dietary restrictions.
Allergen Filters on Menus
  • Our My School Menus platform includes filters for the Top 9 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, sesame), as well as poultry, beef, pork.
Food Allergy Management in Elementary Cafés
  • At the elementary level, foods prepared and served by LTISD Food and Nutrition do not contain peanuts or tree nuts as intentional ingredients.
  • Nut-sensitive zones are available at the end of each table in elementary cafés to support students with nut allergies.
Food Allergy Management in Middle and High School Cafés
  • At the secondary level, pre-packaged snacks containing peanuts or tree nuts may be available for purchase.
  • All foods prepared by LTISD Food and Nutrition do not contain peanuts or tree nuts as intentional ingredients.
  • Students are strongly encouraged to use the My School Menus app (available on the Apple Store and Google Play) to manage food selections and to read labels carefully before consuming any packaged food.
Precautionary Allergen Labeling (PAL)
  • Precautionary Allergen Labeling (PAL) such as “may contain [allergen]” or “manufactured in a facility that processes [allergen]” is voluntary and not regulated under the Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). As a result, there is great variability between manufacturers on how and when they use it. For this reason, students with documented meal accommodations or medical alerts will only be restricted from foods or beverages listing allergens as intentional ingredients unless their meal accommodation request explicitly states otherwise.