Mission
To provide a nutritionally balanced, good-tasting, environmentally and fiscally responsible menu that utilizes local, sustainably produced and quality ingredients.
Health and nutritional standards
ASL seeks to provide a range of food options for students to maintain a balanced diet at the School at an affordable price. These options will exceed both the US and UK minimum nutritional standards.
ASL will seek to ensure that students can eat at times appropriate to their developmental level and that a sufficient range of products to achieve a balanced diet is always available during the school day. Food services will also take account of students’ school and after-school activities. ASL recognizes that students’ abilities to make balanced diet choices will vary according to their age and educational development. Accordingly, where appropriate, some food and drink choices may be limited to certain students and/or certain times of the school day. Students will be provided with sufficient information so that they may make an informed choice. Certain products may not in themselves be high in nutritional value or “healthy”, however, students will always be able to choose a healthy and/or nutritional alternative.
ASL will promote and encourage students to eat healthy meals and snacks through efforts including labelling, presentation, availability and pricing strategy.
ASL will require its caterers to:
- research, resource and promote new healthy products, both organic and non-organic
- research, resource and promote healthier food processes
- minimize the purchase of products containing additives
- not knowingly purchase genetically modified products
- minimize in food production the use of unhealthy products and processes, such as cooking in fats and the addition of salt.
- use at least 95% of fresh and dry (non-frozen) produce.
- Increase the proportion of organic meat and fruit sold at the School.
- Follow government regulations regarding the correct labeling of package products to reduce the chance of an allergic reaction
- Follow industry regulations regarding the reduction of singles use plastics
Environmental and sustainability objectives
To reduce the School’s carbon footprint, pollution emissions and minimize energy ASL’s caterers will be required, where possible, to purchase produce from local or regional sources within the UK and promote seasonal produce. The caterers will be expected to select suppliers with a commitment to sustainability, in particular, suppliers seeking to reduce wasteful packaging.
ASL’s caterers will also be required to monitor and reduce, where possible, energy consumption in their cooking processes. They will be expected to continuously improve environmental performance based on targets and objectives by seeking to reduce packaging required in selling products and by ensuring that all such packaging and disposables are from a sustainable source.
ASL’s caterers will also be required to monitor and reduce, where possible, the waste generated by their food processes and to assist ASL in disposing of all waste in an environmentally appropriate way.
Where products cannot be sourced locally, ASL’s suppliers are required to be proactive in maintaining a culture of responsible environmental awareness and global citizenship through the purchase of produce independently accredited in high standards of sustainability and fair trade.
ASL’s caterers will be expected to publish and monitor their own Corporate Social Responsibility goals.
Updated October 2021
