Food Services
Lunch/Breakfast Menu Cycle
Federal Meal Guidelines & Reimbursable Meals
Every meal served in our school district must meet strict USDA requirements for the district to receive federal reimbursement. If a student is not served a complete, reimbursable meal, the district will not be compensated for the food or the labor used to prepare it.
The mission of our Food Service department is simple: We aim to provide every child in our community with access to wholesome, nutritious meals. We believe that for our students to flourish both in and out of school, they must know the comfort of food security.
SCEC operates 6 school sites with an enrollment of approximately 3,200 students. We have the great privilege of serving the students of East Chicago and its surrounding areas. We achieve our mission by purchasing locally wherever possible, highlighting regional agriculture and producers. We prioritize local dairy, produce, and meat above all other options. By procuring these fresh ingredients, we are able to prepare high-quality, scratch and speed-scratch meals every single day for all of our students—completely free of cost!
For SCEC students, the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program provide nutritious meals at no cost. Because of this, many students consume up to half of their daily calories at school. For parents, these programs offer a convenient, budget-friendly way to ensure balanced nutrition. For schools, proper nutrition enhances children's learning abilities by supporting their physical and mental well-being. Studies consistently show that children whose nutritional needs are met have fewer attendance and discipline problems and are significantly more attentive in class.
SCEC is a proud sponsor of the following federal programs:
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- National School Breakfast Program (NSBP)
- After School Snack Program
- Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Our primary responsibility as a department is to make these programs available to every student and family wishing to participate. We are a food-based program, and our specialty is cooking real food from real ingredients as we continue to eliminate processed foods from our kitchens.
P.R.R.R.R. Our Core Values
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P - Putting Our Students First: Every operational decision is measured by its impact on student health and readiness to learn.
- R - Respecting Our Students: Providing high-quality menus and a dining environment that honors student dignity.
- R - Respecting Ourselves: Professional pride in our work, our uniforms, and our shared commitment to service excellence.
- R - Respecting the Meals We Serve: Focusing on the presentation, flavor, and nutritional integrity of every single tray.
- R - Recognizing USDA Regulations: Strict adherence to federal guidelines to protect district funding and guarantee student safety.