What's for Lunch -  Thursday, November 21, 2013

French Bread Pizza Plain OR with Meatballs
Caesar Salad with Chickpeas & Tomatoes
Fresh Melon

We make these ourselves - we do not serve highly processed frozen pizzas. For our various pizzas, we use the Red Pack vitamin enhanced tomato sauce. The sodium at 140mg is much lower than we previously used. Here are the ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Spice, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Black Pepper, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Natural Flavor, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate). The cheese is a USDA commodity part skim mozzarella. Ingredients are cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes. The sodium is 240mg/oz - we use 2 ounces.
The meatballs we've used previously are processed, cooked and frozen by Tyson from commodity beef and although we've improved the beef in our hamburgers, the same is true for the meatballs. Ingredients are: Ground beef (not more than 20% fat), water, bread crumbs (bleached wheat flour, salt, yeast, dextrose, and soybean oil), seasoning (salt, dehydrated onion, dehydrated celery, garlic powder, spices, soybean oil), tomato puree (tomatoes and citric acid), grated parmesan cheese [(cultured part-skim milk, salt and enzymes), cellulose powder, potassium sorbate], grated romano cheese made from cow's milk [(cultured pasteurized part-skim milk, salt and enzymes), cellulose powder, potassium sorbate]. They have 9g of fat (3 are saturated) and 450 mg of sodium.
The Caesar salad is romaine lettuce. The Caesar salad dressing is organic by Chelten. Here are the ingredients: filtered water, organic soybean oil, organic white vinegar, organic Parmesan cheese (pasteurized organic cow's milk, salt, cheese cultures, microbial enzymes, organic potato starch), pasteurized organic frozen whole egg yolks, salt, organic sugar, organic ground mustard seed, organic garlic powder organic onion powder, organic black pepper, xanthan gum. (in 2 tbsp - 8 g fat, 160 mg sodium).

What's for lunch - Wednesday, November 20th, 2013

An Early Feast!!

Oven Roasted Turkey with pan sauce
From the farm......LI Smashed Potatoes
Sauteed Garlic String Bean
Baked Apple Crisp 

I'm sorry but I don't have any information on this meal. I can say that all items are homemade. I just can't tell u where they came from. Sounds delicious to me!!

What's for Lunch - Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Homemade Baked Ziti
Sautéed Broccoli with Garlic & Oil
Fresh Fruit Salad

The ziti is a white flour pasta with some protein by Barilla Plus. The ingredients are: Semolina, Grain and Legume Flour, Blend (Lentils, Chickpeas, Egg Whites, Spelt, Barley, Flaxseed, Oat Fiber, Oats), Durum Flour, Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid.
The sauce is a Red Pack vitamin enhanced tomato sauce. The sodium at 140mg is much lower than we previously used. Here are the ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Spice, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Black Pepper, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Natural Flavor, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate)
Fresh Broccoli - Sauteed in our kitchen. 
Fresh Fruit Salad

What's for Lunch, Monday, November 18th, 2013

BRUNCH FOR LUNCH
Homemade Challah French Toast
w/Orange Rounds
Applegate Farms® Turkey Bacon
OR
Scrambled Egg & Cheese Wrap
Sweet Potato "Puffs"
Orange Slices
Salad Bar Veggie Sides


This is not one of our better meals. The Challah bread used is very "cakey". The syrup we use does contain High Fructose Corn Syrup which is a no-no. We are trying to find pure maple syrup but it is expensive. 
I need more information on the Scrambled Egg and Cheese wrap. 
The turkey bacon is by Applegate. It is nitrate-free. Here are the ingredients: Turkey (Turkey Used Never Administered Antibiotics, Growth Promotants or Animal By-products), Water, Sea Salt, Maple Sugar, Celery Juice, Onion Powder, Spices, Lactic Acid Starter Culture (not From Milk.
The sweet potato puffs are the commodity potatoes processed by McCain's into tater tots -- although they are labeled "frozen pre-formed potato rounds." They have 7g of fat (one of which is saturated) and 190mg of sodium. Ingredients are: potatoes, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following oils: canola, soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, corn). Contains 2% or less of dextrose, salt, sodium acid pyrophosphate added to maintain natural color.

Raisins are domestic. 
Fresh Orange slices

What's for Lunch - Thursday, November 14, 2013

From the Ranch to you...
Taco Thursday!
Beef Taco with Corn Tortilla Shell
OR
Corn Tortilla Chips
Romaine Lettuce
Zesty Black Beans, Salsa & Cheese
Orange Slices

Our district has contracted with a New York State farm to provide beef raised without antibiotics and hormones. It is more expensive and there is less beef on the menu as a result but it is a huge improvement in the quality of our lunches. We season and prepare this dish.
The hard taco shells from Mission foodservice contain: whole grain corn, water, vegetable oil (one or more of the following: cottonseed oil, corn oil or palm oil), contains 2% or less of niacin, reduced iron, thiamine, mononitrate, riboflavin lime. No sodium - 6g of fat (2 of which are saturated)

The salsa is actually organic by Green Mountain and the ingredients are: tomatoes, fire-roasted chiles, onions, tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, pasilla peppers, apple cider vinegar, cilantro, parsley, garlic, sea salt, spices.

The tortilla chips are a gluten-free option.

The Orange Slices are fresh.

What's for Lunch - Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Homemade Mac N’ Cheese
Barilla® Whole Grain Pasta & Wisconsin Cheddar
Sautéed Broccoli 
From the Farm.. New York State Apples

The pasta we are using for the Mac n cheese is Barilla Plus. The ingredients are: Semolina, Grain and Legume Flour, Blend (Lentils, Chickpeas, Egg Whites, Spelt, Barley, Flaxseed, Oat Fiber, Oats), Durum Flour, Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid. The sauce is made from Wisconsin Cheddar.

Fresh Broccoli

What's for Lunch - Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Chicken “Bites”
Oven Baked, All White Meat
Sweet Potato Crinkles
Cucumber Sticks with Dip
Strawberry Smoothie

The chicken is a Tyson "fully cooked chicken breast nugget fritter with rib meat" with 10g of fat and 420mg of sodium. The ingredients are: Boneless, skinless chicken breast nuggets with rib meat, water, modified food starch, sodium phosphates, salt. PREDUSTED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), wheat gluten, salt. BATTERED WITH: Water, enriched bleached wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), modified corn starch, salt, dextrose, spices, garlic powder, xanthan gum, oleoresin paprika and annatto. BREADED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, spices, garlic powder, extractives of paprika, natural flavors (spice extractives). Breading set in vegetable oil.
The Crinkles are sweet potato fries that are flash or par-fried,then baked and frozen before shipping to us. They have 190mg of sodium and 7g of fat (one is saturated). The ingredients are: Sweet Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of The Following Oils: Canola, Soybean, Cottonseed, Sunflower, Corn), Corn Starch - Modified. Contains 2% or less of Annatto (color), Beta Carotene (color), Caramel Color, Corn Starch, Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Natural Flavor (Contains Wheat), Rice Flour, Salt, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate Added To Maintain Natural Color, Sugar, Tapioca Dextrin, Xanthan Gum.

Please take advantage of the fresh fruits and vegetables.

What's for lunch - Friday, November 8, 2013

From the Ranch to you...
Hamburger or Cheeseburger With all the trimmings
Homemade Cole Slaw
Oven Baked Fries
Red & Green Grapes

Our district has discontinued the use of most USDA commodity beef for a variety of health reasons and contracted with a New York State farm to provide beef raised without antibiotics and hormones. It is more expensive and there is less beef on the menu as a result but it is a huge improvement in the quality of our lunches. So, enjoy your hamburger on a whole grain bun!!
The potatoes are from McCains. The ingredients are: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (contains one or more of the following: Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Cottonseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Corn Oil), Corn Starch - Modified, Dehydrated Garlic, Spices, Salt, Dehydrated Onion, Rosemary, Dehydrated Red Bell Pepper, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Paprika, Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate Added to Preserve Natural Color. Note that the autolyzed yeast extract is potentially similar to MSG. They have 3.5g of fat and 160mg of sodium

What's for Lunch - Thursday, November 7, 2013

GRILLED CHEESE TWO WAYS

Plain Cheese
OR
Cheese & Boar’s Head® Ham
Romaine Salad with Chickpeas
Strawberry Smoothie 

The grilled cheese sandwich is made with Cabot cheddar on whole wheat bread. We use Nature's Own Whole Wheat Bread for these. The ingredients are: STONE GROUND WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, BROWN SUGAR, YEAST, WHEAT GLUTEN, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, VEGETABLE OIL (SOYBEAN OIL OR CANOLA OIL), DOUGH, CONDITIONERS (SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, CALCIUM, STEAROYL-2-LACTYLATE, MONOGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM IODATE, ETHOXYLATED MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM PEROXIDE, DATEM), CULTURED WHEAT FLOUR, VINEGAR, CALCIUM SULFATE, MONOCALCIUM, PHOSPHATE, YEAST FOOD (AMMONIUM SULFATE), SOY LECITHIN

What's for lunch - Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Chicken Parmigiana on Whole Grain Roll
Veggie Sticks with Dip
Petite Banana

The chicken is a pre-cooked breaded Tyson product. The ingredients are: Boneless, skinless chicken breast filets with rib meat, water, modified food starch, sodium phosphates, salt. PREDUSTED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), wheat gluten, salt. BATTERED WITH: Water, enriched bleached wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), modified corn starch, salt, dextrose, spices, garlic powder, xanthan gum, oleoresin paprika and annatto. BREADED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, spices, garlic powder, extractives of paprika, natural flavors (spice extractives). Breading set in vegetable oil. Their serving size has 10g of fat (2 of which are saturated) and 620 mg of sodium. 
The sauce is a Red Pack vitamin enhanced tomato sauce. The sodium at 140mg is much lower than we previously used. Here are the ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Spice, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Black Pepper, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Natural Flavor, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate).

No information on Veggie Sticks or Dip. 

What's for lunch - Monday, November 4, 2013 

Quesadilla
Chicken & Cheese
OR
Plain Cheese
Corn,Tomato & Black Bean Salsa
Cinnamon Applesauce
Cheese and chicken quesadilla w/ a flour tortilla - no whole grains. The tortillas are from Tyson and contain: Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Contains one or more of the following: Cottonseed Oil, Soybean Oil), Mono- and Diglycerides, Contains 2% or less of the following: Salt, Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Fumaric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dough Conditioner (Wheat Flour, Calcium Sulfate, Sorbic Acid), Preservative (Sodium Propionate and Potassium Sorbate). Sodium is 380mg. 5g of fat (1 of which is saturated).
The chicken is from Tyson and is described as diced, cooked chicken meat.