Food & Nutrition
Desert Heights utilizes L & M Catering as the breakfast and lunch caterer for all grade levels.
L&M Catering has many years of experience catering charter schools, private schools, community centers, and community colleges all over Phoenix. L&M catering is committed to serving hot, fresh quality meals daily. We are positive that the service and meals served by L &M will exceed your students’ expectations.
- Lunch meals consist of a 5-component meal, a fruit, a vegetable, a main entree that includes both a grain and a protein, milk. All serving portion sizes comply with the meal pattern set forth by Arizona Department of Education based on grade level. The cost of lunch is $3.80 or $0.40, if your student qualifies for the reduced rate. Please note that due to the reduced-price subsidy in effect, the reduced price for lunch is $0.00.
- Breakfast meals consist of either a 3 or 4 component meal. A grain, fruit, and milk. All serving portion sizes comply with the meal pattern set forth by Arizona Department of Education based on grade level. The cost for breakfast is $2.40 or $0.30, if your student qualifies for the reduced rate. Please note that due to the reduced-price subsidy in effect, the reduced price for breakfast is $0.00.
Meals must be preordered for students to receive lunch or breakfast. If lunch or breakfast is not preordered, lunch will need to be packed. Menus are subject to change.
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Important Reminders
- Meals must be ordered by Wednesday before the following week by midnight. You can order for an entire month at a time if its easier. If you do not order in time contact Food Service Director Vanessa Gonzalez for accommodations.
- Free and reduced priced applications can take up to 10 days to process so please plan accordingly.
- School code is DHC1
Desert Heights Charter Schools participates in the National School Lunch Program.
Electronic applications for the 2024-2025 school year will be live beginning July 15th, 2024. We encourage parents to apply online by accessing the Mealtime website. Parents will need their student’s ID number to apply on-line. This information can be found on ParentVUE. Parents unable to apply online can download and manually complete the forms linked below, or printed forms are also available in the front office. Applications can be returned via email or dropped off in the front offices.
All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), TANF, Direct Certification-Medicaid Free (DC-M Free) can receive free meals regardless of income. Please note that due to the reduced-price subsidy in effect, the reduced-price meals are $0.00.
Note: Applications in other languages are available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/translated-applications
If you have questions regarding the process, or need assistance completing an application, contact our Food Service Director, Vanessa Gonzalez.
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information requested in order to verify your children’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. If you do not provide the information or provide incomplete information, your children may no longer receive free or reduced-price meals.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 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. Individuals 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 complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and 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: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Desert Heights Charter Schools is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Desert Heights Charter Schools are committed to teaching the whole child, including wellness of mind and body. We believe in the connection between academic achievement and personal wellness. It is our goal to utilize innovative methods to provide our students with the education and tools they need to take responsibility for their own health and fitness. We have taken steps to create an environment of healthy choices. Our Local Wellness Policy was developed with goals and programs addressing physical activity (P.E. programs and extra-curricular activities), nutrition education, and nutrition standards for the schools. These are critical years for students as they seek to establish patterns of behavior that they will carry with them into adulthood. It is our goal to provide the most current, accurate information regarding health for them, utilizing methods that will catch their interest and feel relevant to their situation. To see our Local Wellness Policy, please click here. To see the most recent assessment of our Local Wellness Policy, please click here.
Click the appropriate link to access the breakfast and lunch menu for the identified month.
Click here for instructions on how to create a Boonli account. Use this link to order lunches!
Our school participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and is committed to ensuring all students have access to nutritious meals while maintaining clear and consistent meal account procedures.
Policy Overview:
To support students, families, and staff, our policy outlines expectations for meal charges when a student does not have sufficient funds in their account or on hand to cover the cost of a meal.
Our Goals:
- Treat all students with dignity in the serving line, regardless of meal account status.
- Foster positive interactions between staff, students, and families regarding meal payments.
- Implement age-appropriate policies for meal charges.
- Encourage parents/guardians to maintain meal account balances and promote student self-responsibility.
- Establish a clear and consistent process for handling meal charges and collections.
For more details or to manage your child’s meal account, please contact our Food Service Director Vanessa Gonzalez or click here to read more.
