About Us

Introduction
Our Vision
Our Mission
Nutrition Integrity
Job Opportunities

Introduction

Food and Nutrition Services, Fairfax County Public Schools, is a nonprofit $70.1 million business. Over 1300 food services professionals take pride in serving approximately 140,000 customers daily at 238 schools and special centers, 8 day cares and private schools, 15 senior citizen programs, 18 Meals-on-Wheels sites, 133 School-Age Child Care (SACC) programs, and 52 Family and Early Childhood Education Programs (Head Start). Lunch and a la carte items are available in all schools. Breakfast programs are offered in 159 schools and centers.

The food service program, as an extension of the educational programs of the schools, is operated under the federally funded National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act. The federal laws regulating the food service programs are administered by the United States Department of Agriculture through the regional office and implemented within the Commonwealth of Virginia by the State Department of Education.

The program's objective is to improve the health of students by providing a variety of palatable, high-quality, safe, nutritious foods that students will enjoy eating at a price affordable to them. The menus are planned by Registered Dietitians and the school cafeteria serves as the nutrition laboratory in the schools.

Our Vision

The Office of Food and Nutrition Services, Fairfax County Public Schools, will assist in developing excellence in each and every student. In an atmosphere that values diversity and human resources, we will be the best Food and Nutrition Services program in the nation by providing students food and nutrition knowledge, skills, and values they will need for a healthy body in an ever-changing global society.

Our Mission

We will provide nutritious meals that reflect current research and meet the recommended dietary allowances for school-age children. We will provide nutrition education in the classroom with the school cafeteria serving as the nutrition laboratory. We will serve as a nutrition education resource to the community.

Nutrition Integrity

Every student will have the opportunity to choose nutritious foods that will prepare students to learn.

• Our nutrition standard will be based on 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid - Steps to a Healthier You.
• Nutrition values of meals will be evaluated over a period of days rather than judged on a single meal or food item.
• Student preferences and input from monthly customer report cards and student tastes parties will be considered in menu planning. Since foods must be eaten to provide nutrients, menu changes will be gradual to assure acceptance.
• Student meals will contain adequate calories and a variety of foods to support growth, development, and healthy weight.
• Purchasing practices will ensure the use of high quality ingredients and prepared products to maximize acceptance. Food and Nutrition Services professionals will continue to work with industry to develop these foods.
• Foods will be prepared in ways that ensure a balance between optimal nutrition quality and student acceptance.
• Foods offered to students in addition to meals will be of optimal nutrition quality as stated in the code of Virginia and Governor Warner's scorecard standards (2005).
• Nutrition Education will be an integral part of the curriculum from preschool through twelfth grade. The school cafeteria will serve as a laboratory for applying knowledge and skills taught in the classroom by food service personnel.
• In-service and professional development opportunities will be provided for food and nutrition managers and staff, school-based instructional personnel, and office-based personnel. These experiences will be sponsored by professional organizations and Nutrition Education and Training activities.
• Annual E-Z Fitness Challenge will promote the importance of healthy food choices and exercise for the school communities.

Kings Park Elementary School

Kings Park ES Food Service participated in the school PTA silent auction. The winner planned the lunch menu for the day. On the day the student planned menu was served, a special drawing was held to award prizes (Mickey Mouse) to thank students for their participation in the school lunch program and to encourage students to continue to buy school lunch.

Japanese guests at Glen Forest Elementary School

New Nutritional Offerings for Breakfast and Lunch
According to the new MyPyramid-Steps to a Healthier You, Fairfax County Public Schools , Office of Food and Nutrition Services has added additional healthful food choices to its school breakfast and lunch programs:

• More whole grains such as rolls, pretzels and pizza crust
• Lower fat chicken, beef, and turkey items
• Low-fat yogurt, milk and cheeses
• Variety of fruits, vegetables, and chef's salads
• Only a la carte snacks with reduced amounts of fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, and sodium
• Elementary school students must have a lunch, either purchased or from home in order to purchase an a la carte item.

High Schools

French fries will only be available three days per week in high schools.