Special Diets & Food Allergies

For children who do NOT meet the definition of a disability or who do not have a food allergy/disease that is life threatening that requires alternate menu provisions, the Food & Nutrition Services Dept. may, although is not required to, make the requested menu substitutions.  Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, and most special meal requests can be accommodated by the variety in our menu. This provision covers those students who have food intolerances or allergies that do not affect a major life activity.  Medical documentation is required before any menu substitutions or modifications will be considered. 

Currently, Manor ISD's Food & Nutrition Services Department does not provide non-dairy or lactose-reduced/lactose-free milk substitutes to non-disabled students who cannot drink fluid milk due to a medical or special dietary need. Additionally, juice is not an approved fluid milk substitute, unless clearly stated by a physician in relation to a student with life-threatening allergy or disability. Milk is not required to be taken as part of Offer-vs-Serve regulations and students may choose juice when offered as a fruit component in the meal. Parents are encouraged to provide students with an appropriate beverage alternative from home. Water is available at every school.

The Food & Nutrition Services department only provides special dietary accommodations for students with a valid medical condition. We are not able to make accommodations based on religious convictions or personal food preferences. Although it is not feasible to meet everyone’s particular needs by providing individual diet plans, this information may be helpful to you when making school meal choices for your family. 

• Vegetarian entree options are offered daily
• All pork items can be clearly identified on the online menus as "contains pork"

Nutrition information is available on Linq Connect to help students plan their meals in a way that fits with their preferences.

A note can be added to your student's account as a reminder to the cafeteria staff. However, it is the student's responsibility to choose foods that fit their dietary needs and preferences. 

If you would like a note added to your student's account regarding specific eating preferences (i.e. vegetarian, no pork), please email the school nutrition dietitian, Jennifer Parks.

Manor ISD Food & Nutrition Services department is required to provide reasonable meal accommodations for students with life-threatening allergies (those that can cause anaphylactic reactions), or for students with disabilities that restrict their diet. However, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) requires that the district maintain an updated diet order on file before providing these special dietary accommodations.

Menu changes may be provided for either:

1. Students who have a disability that requires an Individual Education Plan or a 504 Plan and also have a special dietary need.
2. Students who do not have a disability covered by the Americans' with Disability Act (ADA), but who have a disease that is life-threatening or a food allergy that requires immediate medical attention such as an epi-pen to treat anaphylactic shock.

To ensure that your child receives the food he/she needs to fulfill the recommended diet, please ask your doctor to complete the Request for Dietary Accommodation Form.  Please ensure that it is completely filled out with all the required information so Nutrition Services can promptly process the request and begin dietary accommodations as soon as possible. Once completed, please return the form to your school nurse. 

Manor ISD requires that the Request for Dietary Accommodation Form be updated whenever a change in diet is required. Accommodations are considered ONLY for those students requiring a change in diet based on medical need. Special dietary accommodations will not be made without the appropriate medical documentation.

Any necessary menu accommodations will be communicated by the Nutrition Services’ Dietitian to the school nurse and cafeteria manager. Please allow several days for processing and ordering of food if needed. It is recommended that the guardian send a meal from home until the necessary accommodations are in place.

Once a written medical statement is provided, it is not required to provide an annual statement from the medical authority as long as the accommodation has not changed. 

To change or modify an existing request, will require submitting another dietary request form and must have required medical authority signatures.

To remove a dietary modification, the parent/guardian can write a note indicating that the student no longer needs a meal accommodation. The note should include the students name, ID number, school campus and reason for removing the special diet or food allergy.  This must be submitted prior to the termination of the accommodation. A medical authority signature is not required to discontinue a dietary request.