Lunch Menus
	Click HERE to access GFA's lunch menus and our food provider, Flik.

	Nutrition Resources
	Flik, which works with many independent schools, offers information and resources on nutrition on its web site. You can access the information HERE.

	GFA Food Facts
	Over the past few years, parents and students have worked with the kitchen staff to make changes to our dining program that reflect an emphasis on healthy eating, recycling and using our own resources to augment the food offered at GFA. Did you know...   Food and Education The kitchen has been redesigned for greater efficiency. A steamer and grill were added for more nutrient dense vegetable preparations; panini machines were added to offer easy access to hot sandwiches.  There are increased offerings of vegetarian, whole grain and gluten-free options; a self-serve organic yogurt bar is available.  Composed salads comprised of a variety of nutritious foods such as whole grains are offered consistently (and have gained popularity).  As a nut-aware school, sunflower butter is offered instead of peanut butter.  Snack options for swiping include organic milk, 100% juices, hummus and organic yogurt cups. A salad bar was added for K-3 students. Choices include organic yogurt and a variety of raw fruits/vegetables, prepared sandwiches, whole cooked eggs, and composed salads.  A soup option is served daily by Chef Daniel Hallama to lower school students.  An organic vegetable garden has been created and the lower school garden has been expanded; science teachers bring students to both gardens as part of their curriculum; harvested vegetables and herbs are used in lunch preparations and in classroom presentations by Chef Daniel.  Food samples are offered periodically during health classes by Chef Daniel to encourage students to try new offerings in the dining area (often resulting in greater willingness to try food in the dining hall). The Flik Nutrition Specialist visits periodically to showcase healthy food samples during LS assemblies. Some vending machine and swipe items have been replaced with healthier options.  Please refer to “Our Commitment to You” regarding general Flik food sourcing practices and please note: We offer fruits and vegetables from local farms practicing ecologically responsible farming methods whenever possible. Olive oil and canola oil are predominately used in food preparation and extra virgin oil is available for the salad bar and sandwiches. Sesame oil is used in stir fry dishes, which the students requested once per week. We avoid cooking with any food products which contain trans fats, artificial ingredients or preservatives. Our milk, cheese and yogurt are free of artificial hormones, and our beef, chicken, turkey and pork products have not been treated with antibiotics, hormones, nitrates or artificial ingredients. We serve seafood purchased in accordance with the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch guidelines.  Sustainability Carbon block water filters have been installed at water fountains at strategic locations throughout GFA.  Styrofoam plates and plastic utensils have been eliminated. All food waste is composted and collected by the Eco-Club, a very important part of the composting program. A waste monitoring program raises awareness to ultimately reduce overall waste. Our organic vegetable garden not only provides the school community with local organic produce and educational opportunities, but also reduces our carbon footprint. Communication Students and teachers have been surveyed for feedback; an e-mail address has been set up for ongoing feedback: food@gfacademy.org. Flik has installed a digital menu screen in the main dining area for all students and faculty to view the daily selection for lunch. Additional dining program information and educational health messaging will also be displayed on this screen. MySchoolDining is available for the school community to view menus, learn more about our dining programming and access nutrition resources. For access, visit the GFA web site. Click Parents, Parent Resources, Campus Dining.