Food Services
Our Meal Program
At EMSA, we are committed to our students’ health and wellness. Research shows that healthy students are better able to pay attention in class and better positioned to succeed in school and life.
The goals of our food program are to:
- Support the academic success and achievement of our students
- Provide nutritious meals that allow students to maintain focus
- Provide healthy and fresh food offerings along with education on making healthy choices
- Expose our students to new culinary experiences while still offering “kid favorites”
EMSA partners with QuestFood in order to provide quality meals to our students that contain high quality ingredients and are eco-friendly. Meals are planned with student preferences in mind and follow the regulations of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.
Healthy School Meals contain: Lean protein, Whole grains, Fresh Fruits or 100% Fruit Juice, a variety of vegetables, a choice of milk. Meals are calorie controlled, low in sodium, contain less than 10% saturated fat and 0g of trans fat.
Please access this link to view our menus: QuestFood Menus
On the right-hand side, you can toggle between the Menu Plan (i.e., K-4 or 5-8). This will provide families with the menu for each day of the month. It also includes the Breakfast Menu.
Student Meals
All School Name students are offered healthy, nutritious meals including breakfast and lunch through the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs. Encourage your student to start each day with a healthy school breakfast! Eating breakfast at school is a great way for students to socialize with friends and to start the day ready to learn. And for families on the go, it makes the morning rush so much easier!
Breakfast costs $2.35
Lunch costs $4.90
Our cafeteria is cashless and all meals must be paid for in advance via our online student account portal. Click here for our online pay portal to create an account and deposit funds into your student account. (insert link to online site for meal payments). Your student may qualify for a Free or Reduced priced meal. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch.
QuestFood Informational Packet Choice in School
Accommodating special dietary needs QUESTfood updated price list 24-25
Wellness Policy
Please find EMSA's Wellness Policy and Wellness Policy Assessment below.
WEllness policywellness policy assessment
Summer Meals for Kids & Teens
For Summer Meals for Kids & Teens in your community!
- Here is a link for a summer meal finder tool from USDA: https://www.fns.usda.gov/
meals4kids - Here is a link to Summer Meal Finder for Illinois: http://summerfeedingillinois.
org/
Families can also call 800-359-2163 or text FOODIL or COMIDASIL to 304304 to find a summer feeding location.
Summer EBT Program
Please see below for information about the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (Summer EBT) that will be taking place this Summer of 2024. Also, attached are the Summer EBT Fact Sheets for more information.
Summer EBT is a new Federal Nutrition Program that provides a grocery benefit during the summer months to families with children eligible for free or reduced priced school meals. Eligible children will receive a one-time benefit of $120.00 per summer on an EBT card to purchase food. ISBE along with the Illinois Department of Human Services will be implementing this program. The federal program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These benefits are created to help students have a hunger-free summer. Families can access the following link to learn more about this program: https://www.fns.usda.
1) Who is eligible?
Students who are income-eligible, able to be directly certified, or categorically eligible for free or reduced price school meals are eligible for Summer EBT.
2) What is the Summer EBT benefit amount for Summer 2024?
Summer EBT 2024 issuance will be a one-time issuance of $120 per eligible student. Summer EBT benefits are subject to the same rules as regular SNAP benefits. Benefits can be used to buy food for the household only.
Summer EBT benefits can be used to purchase the following:
- fruits and vegetables
- meat, poultry, and fish
- dairy products
- breads and cereals
- other foods (such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages)
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
2024-2025 Free & Reduced Lunch Program
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
To complete your Free or Reduced Meals Application for 2024-2025: Visit www.mymealtime.com/apps, and use the username and password you set up for your MealTime Account.
- Once signed in, click on Start New Application and follow the prompts. You only need to complete one application per household.
- Once the application is completed, you should see the following message. You don’t need to do anything else. You will receive a determination notice once the application is revised and a decision is made
- If a paper application is needed, please email our front office at info@emsacharter.org
Free and reduced lunch application instructions (English & Spanish)
Free and reduced english application
free and reduced english letter to household
