Nutrition & Wellness
Evansville Lutheran School participates in the National Lunch Program, administered through the State of Indiana Department of Education. The purpose of the lunch program is to provide well-balanced meals at a reasonable cost and to promote healthy eating patterns involving nutritious foods. Menus are available on the LINQ mobile app, or here.
Upgrade SHAQ
The Student Health Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ) is an annual initiative administered to students in grades three and above at our school. This questionnaire aims to gather valuable insights into students' health behaviors, including their eating habits and physical activity levels, to support our mission as an Upgrade School focused on promoting healthy lifestyles. By collecting this information annually, we can identify trends, celebrate positive behaviors, and address areas where students may need additional guidance or resources. The SHAQ serves as a tool to inform school-wide programs that encourage healthy eating and physical activity during the school day, helping us create a supportive environment for students to make informed choices about their well-being. This data-driven approach allows us to continuously improve our strategies and ensure that we are fostering habits that contribute to overall student health and success.
Below is a link to the questionnaire for parents to review.
Lunch Info & Forms
Meal Payments & Charges
The lunch program operates on a pre-payment basis. Meals, plus any a la carte items purchased, are deducted from the student’s account balance. Parents are expected to pre-pay for lunches regularly. Payments for a student’s lunch can be made in the office or via the LINQ mobile app. Checks sent to the office must be made out to ELS Food Service and separately from other payments to the office (i.e. tuition, spirit wear, etc).
Parents are expected to keep their student’s lunch account positive. Students with negative lunch accounts will not be allowed to purchase extras or a la carte items. The student will still be allowed to eat the school lunch and will be charged accordingly. Parents will be informed when they are out of money or when the family has a negative balance by email or by a note sent with their student. All negative balances are expected to be repaid as quickly as possible. Delinquent cafeteria accounts cause difficulty in the cash flow and must be repaid. If a family incurs financial difficulty, please contact the Business Administrator immediately to request alternate payment plans. Free or Reduced Lunch applications can be submitted at any time during the year. Once an account reaches a negative $50 balance or is unpaid for 60 days, the account will be reported to the administration, and lunch privileges may be revoked.
NOTE: A payment reminder can be set up in the LINQ mobile app. Auto Pay can also be set up using the LINQ mobile app.
Meal Prices
2025/2026 school year prices for lunches. See the office for full a la carte prices. (Prices are subject to change without notice.)
• Student Lunch (K-8), $3.85
• Visitor Lunch, $4.85
• Extra Entrée, $2.25
• Extra Side, $0.50
Free and Reduced Meal Application
Free or reduced lunches are available through the School Nutrition Program for those who qualify. Applications are sent out before the beginning of the school year, available at Registration, online, and are also available in the school office. Families are encouraged to apply anytime during the year. The National Lunch Program pays for these lunches and does not come from school or cafeteria funds, so please use this program if you think you may qualify.
NOTE: We encourage families to apply throughout the year when circumstances have changed. IE Change in a job, a layoff, or other family circumstances.
Special Dietery Needs
If your child has a special dietary need, please notify the school and the school’s cafeteria manager.
PEr USDA standards for milk, we are required to provide a milk substitution (i.e. soy milk or lactose free milk) if your child has a lactose intolerance.
Free water is available in all school cafeterias. Juice is available to purchase for $0.50.
Wellness Committee
In accordance to USDA regulations the school formed a Wellness Committee. This Committee is comprised of the Food Manager, Business Administrator, Athletic Director, a school board member, a parent and a student. This Board meets every quarter and forms Wellness Policies for the school.
We hope that you and your children find our menus flavorful, healthy and full of variety. We take pride in doing our best to provide nutritious and affordable meals to your children. We encourage you to join us for lunch!! If you would like to have lunch with your child, please notify the school’s front office. If you ever have any questions, comments, suggestions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office Monday through Friday 7:00AM -3:00PM Or you can put a suggestion in the Hot Lunch Program suggestion box located at the serving area.
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