Nutrition Services

Student Allergies & Diets

Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs

Goose Creek is a peanut and tree nut free district.
Goose Creek CISD adheres to the The Texas Department of Agriculture guidelines for accommodating children with special dietary needs.
The Nutrition Services Department will accept either of the following as documentation of a special dietary need:
  1. Physician's Request for Special Dietary AccomodationsForm [preferred]
    The form must:
    • Be signed by a licensed physician.
    • Identify the child’s disability and/or life-threatening food allergy.
    • Include an explanation of why the disability and/or allergy restricts the child’s diet.
    • Identify the major life activity affected by the disability.
    • List the food or foods to be voided from the child’s diet and the food or choice of foods that must be substituted.
  2. We will also accept a Medical Statement for Children with Special Dietary Needs as long as the following is included:
    • It must be signed by a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practical nurse.
    • The form must identify the medical condition(s) that restrict the child’s diet.
    • It must lists the food or foods to be voided from the child’s diet and the food or choice of foods to be substituted.

Specific requests must be detailed on the submitted documentation.

Documentation must be submitted to the School Nurse for verification, who will then forward a copy to Nutrition Services. Dietary accommodations begin once Nutrition Services receives and processes the request. Please note that dietary accommodations that require purchasing specific items may not be immediately available. It can take up to four weeks to receive delivery of special order items.
    • Provide a physician’s statement to the school nurse, making sure that it includes all required information as listed on page 1.
      Note: If the physician's order contains any statements requiring further clarification, special dietary accommodations will not begin until the physician provides further written clarification.
    • Provide updated physician’s orders as necessary. Give the school nurse a written statement signed by the physician when accommodations are no longer needed. Dietary accommodations cannot be changed prior to receiving updated documentation from the physician.
    • Work with the school nurse and Registered Dietitian to review and return modified menus as soon as possible.
      Note: Modified menus will not be implemented until approval is received.
    • Physician's diet orders must be renewed every school year. Please provide an updated physician's statement to the school nurse during the summer, prior to the beginning of school. Remember that there may be a delay of up to 4 weeks if special orders are required.

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    • Send physician's orders to the Nutrition Services Department:
      Fax: (281) 420-4632
    • Serve as liaison between the Nutrition Services Department and the parent to gather needed information and physician documentation.

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  • What we can do:

    • Provide reasonable accommodations that meet the physician ordered dietary restrictions, to the best of our ability / knowledge.
    • Work with the parent and school nurse to adjust the diet as updated physician's orders are received.
    • Non-disability students will be handled on a case by case basis.

    What we are unable to do:

    • Interpret, revise, or change a diet order for students with disabilities.
    • Provide dietary accommodations for students without a valid medical condition.
    • Provide dietary accommodations without the proper physician's documentation.
    • Provide fruit juice as a milk substitute for non-disability students.

    For Questions or Concerns:

     

    Lauren Crain MS, RD 

    281-707-3230

    This is an equal opportunity employer and provider

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