Frequently Asked Questions

Just how healthy are school meals?
All meals are low in fat and provide well-balanced servings from each food group. School lunches provide one half of the recommended dietary allowances for calories, protein and vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. In recent years Mohonasen has increased the use of whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables. And nothing is fried; everything is baked -- even the French fries!

What are the prices for school meals?
It depends on the school you or your child attends. For elementary children, breakfasts costs 80 cents and lunches are $1.50. Middle school students also pay 80 cents for breakfast and lunches are $1.75. High school students are offered breakfast with prices ranging from 35 to 80 cents and lunches cost $1.75.

Can students pre-pay for meals?
Yes -- and parents will save money doing so since children earn one free lunch for every 20 that are paid for in advance. The cost for the pre-paid plan is $30 for 21 elementary lunches and $35 for 21 lunches at the middle and high school. Parents can mail a check to the Mohonasen Food Service Program at 2072 Curry Road, Schenectady, NY 12306. Or they can send payment to school with their child. Children are given a  pin-number to type into a computer keypad as they go through the cafeteria line and the cost of the meal is automatically deducted from their account. Cafeteria workers help remind students when their account is getting low. Pin numbers may not be used to purchase snack items. This system helps parents control how kids spend their lunch money and cuts way down on the number of kids who lose their lunch money. Parents of students using the pre-pay policy may also obtain a copy of account activity showing which days students purchased meals.

What if we can’t afford school meals?
Students may be eligible for free or reduced price lunches if their families meet federal guidelines. The application only takes a minute to fill out and can be done at any time during the school year. Students are given pin numbers just like everyone else so their peers and food service workers are not aware which children are receiving free or reduced price lunches. To obtain a copy of the application, call the food office at 356-8225 or e-mail us with your address and we'll mail it directly.
NOTE: Families who are eligible for free or reduced price school meals are also income-eligible for the WIC program. WIC is a special supplemental food program that provides food and nutrition education for pregnant, breast-feeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to the age of five. To learn more about WIC, receive an application and/or make an appointment to enroll, call the Schenectady County WIC clinic at 346-8818.

Why do visitors get charged $3.00 for lunch?
Our school lunch program is a federal and state funded program. The federal and state government give us a small stipend to help support the cost of the program. They will only give us money towards lunches that are prepared for and fed to students attending the school. Our program is self supporting. The school-lunch department pays all its own bills which includes food, salaries, insurance, social security and a whole lot more. The price of $3.00 for visitors basically pays for the food provided to you. You didn't actually think $1.50 covered the whole cost of the lunch did you? Find out just how hard it is... plan a menu at home and cost it out. The meal must include 3 oz of meat, 3 servings of bread or bread equivalent, vegetable, fruit, and milk. Throw in all the condiments that go with that meal, and add a dessert to make it really challenging. How did you do?

How can I make sure my child is eating a good breakfast?
Children need breakfast to stay alert and do well in school throughout the day. It wakes up their brains after a long night’s rest -- like throwing a log onto a smoldering fire. If your child doesn't have time to eat a good breakfast in the morning or simply isn't hungry that early, the school breakfast program is a great option. Breakfast is served from 8 to 8:30 a.m at our elementary schools and the food service staff will wait if they know a bus hasn’t arrived yet. At the middle school, breakfast is served from 7:10 a.m. to 8 a.m. There is a sign in sheet available for students using the breakfast program that will excuse them if they're a little late for homeroom. At the high school level, students have access to breakfast from 7 to 7:30 a.m. and seniors until 9:30 a.m.

Why should I be concerned with my child’s eating habits?
Children’s nutrition is no small issue. There is no better time than the early years to make an impact on the lifelong eating and exercise habits that can contribute to health maintenance and disease prevention.

What is the food service doing to make school meals more appealing to kids?
The food service program keeps a close eye on meal counts and student feedback to determine what the kids want to eat. Students also now have more variety to choose from. In an ongoing effort to keep student interest, the food service offers two new items on the menu every month. Seasonings on the food helps make it tastier and more appealing as well. The most popular lunches at the middle school and high school are Italian dunkers, mozzarella sticks and "deli day." At the elementary level, the most popular lunches are "brunch for lunch," chicken nuggets, nacho supreme and Italian dunkers.

What if my child has special dietary needs?
Mohonasen is developing a program to calculate carbohydrate grams -- which should be useful to parents and children that need this information for health reasons. Mohonasen does not, however, provide special menus for individual children. We encourage all children -- especially those with special nutritional needs (such as diabetes, food allergies, etc) -- to learn how to make their own educated choices about the food they eat since this is a skill that will serve them well throughout their lives.

How much does this program add to my school tax bill?
Nothing! Mohonasen's Food Service Program is entirely self supporting.

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