Creating a Healthy + Sustainable Culture
We believe that physical health, learning, and the environment are naturally connected. Our commitment to a healthy and sustainable food program means that we limit processed foods, provide homemade meals whenever possible, and 
offer a variety of options for students to choose from daily. At AC, we offer fresh and nutritious food every day with homemade soups; vegetarian options; a 25-item salad bar with homemade dressings; and a second cold bar with fresh meats, cheeses, fruits, and yogurts. Our meals are served family-style with a faculty member at each table, so lunch is a time when students can get to know faculty and students from other grades. Social and athletic announcements are made during lunch, along with a daily trivia challenge.
A team of Allendale Columbia students, teachers, parents, and employees worked with nutrition and sustainability experts to create a customized, school-wide approach to our food program that’s healthy, environmentally responsible, and absolutely delicious.
What’s cooking:
• More recipes made from scratch
• A focus on using whole foods and non-processed ingredients
• Switching many wasteful, single-serving packets of condiments to refillable containers
• Expanding local food partnerships
There’s something for everyone! We accommodate a wide variety of food allergies, vegetarian or vegan diets, or medically-related food needs. Our chocolate milk is fat free (not just low fat) and accompanied by soy milk, orange juice, fat free vitamin D milk, and water. The choice is in our students’ hands at lunch time with a daily entrée, homemade soup, fresh-baked breads, sandwich toppings, and fresh fruit.
Our soups, salad dressings, and desserts—typically a common source for processed ingredients—are all made from scratch.
Supporting a Sustainable Environment
We’re committed to protecting our environment and natural resources.
As a result, we:
• Use crops harvested from the Allendale Columbia organic garden
• Limit the use of disposable products
• Fully support our student-run recycling and composting program
We’re proud to be “localvores.”
We choose to partner with local businesses, suppliers, and farms that share our healthy + sustainable philosophy, including:
• Headwater Food Hub, providing seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, and organic, cage-free eggs
• Flour City Bread Company, baking our white and wheat breads as well as our rolls
• Natural Upcycling, helping us to reduce waste and do our part for the environment
What’s for Lunch
Monday September 28 – Friday October 2
Monday September 28
Nothing on the menu for today.
Tuesday September 29
Entree: French toast with turkey sausage
Vegetarian: French toast w/out sausage
AC Special: Roast beef and provolone on a Kaiser roll
Entrees available everyday: Turkey sandwich, Bagel/yogurt, Sunbutter & jelly sandwich, Salad w/hummus & pita
All lunches come with a fruit, vegetable, dessert (when menu listed) and choice of beverage: fat free chocolate milk, fat free milk, OJ, bottled water
Wednesday September 30
Entree: Chicken cordon bleu
Vegetarian: Black bean burger
AC Special: Chicken stuffed with broccoli and cheese
Dessert: Oatmeal brownie
Entrees available everyday: Turkey sandwich, Bagel/yogurt, Sunbutter & jelly sandwich, Salad w/hummus & pita
All lunches come with a fruit, vegetable, dessert (when menu listed) and choice of beverage: fat free chocolate milk, fat free milk, OJ, bottled water
Thursday October 1
Entree: Mexican skillet
Vegetarian: Veggie skillet
AC Special: Tuna melt
Entrees available everyday: Turkey sandwich, Bagel/yogurt, Sunbutter & jelly sandwich, Salad w/hummus & pita
All lunches come with a fruit, vegetable, dessert (when menu listed) and choice of beverage: fat free chocolate milk, fat free milk, OJ, bottled water
Friday October 2
Entree: Beef hot dog
Vegetarian: Veggie hot dog
AC Special: Turkey burger
Dessert: Italian ice
Entrees available everyday: Turkey sandwich, Bagel/yogurt, Sunbutter & jelly sandwich, Salad w/hummus & pita
All lunches come with a fruit, vegetable, dessert (when menu listed) and choice of beverage: fat free chocolate milk, fat free milk, OJ, bottled water