Food Services
Welcome to the Richwoods R-VII Nutrition Services Department, where good nutrition and learning go hand-in-hand.
Our Nutrition Services Department is a team of food and nutrition professionals that are dedicated to preparing healthy meals for your children. We support learning by promoting healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and fitness practices.
Mission Statement
The Richwoods R-VII School District will provide nutrition services that make the maximum contribution to the health, nutrition, and education of our children by:
- Providing well-prepared meals served in a safe and pleasant environment.
- Offering and encouraging wise food choices.
- Contributing to the overall district educational setting.
All meals served in our schools meet the state and federal requirements based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines.
Free Breakfast & Lunch Program
Richwoods R-VII School District participates in the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, a free breakfast and lunch program. Through this program, all students enrolled in this school are eligible to receive school breakfast and lunch at no charge. We do not collect household applications for free and reduced price meals.
Studies have shown that children who are not hungry perform better in school. By providing breakfast/lunch to all children at no charge, we can create a better learning environment for our students. The school breakfasts and lunches we serve follow U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals.
This free breakfast and lunch program cannot succeed without your support. Please encourage your children to participate every school day.
Documents and Regulations
The Richwoods R-VII School Food Service Department works very hard on meeting all federal regulations as they are set forth. Each year we encounter new challenges, but we are confident that by feeding our children the healthiest meals possible we can and will make a difference in their lives. Please feel free to look over any of the documents on this page.
What is HACCP? HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.
What does the HACCP plan do? HACCP is a systematic approach to construct a food safety program designed to reduce the risk of food borne hazards by focusing on each step of the food preparation process -- from receiving to service. The HACCP plan will help control food safety hazards that might arise during all aspects of food service (receiving, storing, preparing, cooking, cooling, reheating, holding, assembling, packaging, transporting, and serving).
Serving safe food is the critical responsibility for the school food service department, and a key aspect of a healthy school environment. Keeping foods safe is also a vital part of healthy eating and a recommendation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. We have implemented a HACCP-based food safety plan to help ensure the safety of the school meals served to your children.
The primary goals of the Richwoods R-VII School District's wellness program are to promote student health, reduce student overweight/obesity, facilitate student learning of lifelong healthy habits, and increase student achievement. These procedures will guide the implementation of the district wellness program.
Healthy Ideas for Snacks, Rewards, and Fundraising
The Richwoods R-VII School District has committed to helping students become fit, healthy, and ready to learn. Positive examples of making healthy eating choices and encouraging physical activity should be visible throughout the school. School and classroom parties offer an excellent opportunity for our schools to reinforce the message that making healthy food choices and being physically active means a healthier body and a sharper mind. To this end, the District Health and Wellness Committee has put together a list of suggested party snacks. All snacks must be store bought and come wrapped.
Celebrations and Parties - In keeping with the overall nutritional guidelines, we encourage parents and teachers to limit soda and candy to no more than 50% of the foods offered at special holiday parties or activities. The other 50% of food items offered must be healthy.
Rewards - These should not include candy or soda. We encourage nonfood incentives and/or at least 50% healthy food.
Fundraisers and Intramural Activities/Concession Stands - Defined as school-sponsored or related groups or organizations having food sales during the school day will provide at least 50% of food items served must be healthy.
Equal Opportunity Provider
In accordance with federal civil rights law and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulation and policies, the USDA, it agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individual who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complain of discrimination, complete the USDA program discrimination complaint form (AD-3027) available at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
- Mail:
United States Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 - Fax:
(202) 690-7442 - Email:
program.intake@usda.gov