Catering
Our mission is to provide a nutritionally balanced, good-tasting, environmentally and fiscally responsible menu that utilizes local, sustainably produced and quality ingredients.
Menu
FAQs
Student lunch options
Lower school
Kindergarten students are expected to bring lunch from home. Students in Grades 1-4 may bring in a lunch from home, or parents may elect for their child(ren) to be provided with a nutritious lunch by the School. Parents may choose for their child(ren) from a variety of hot and cold meals, accompanied by healthy snacks. Questions about lower school lunches to Sue Moffat.
Middle school
Middle school students have two options for lunch:
- Students may bring a packed lunch to school
- Parents/guardians may purchase a meal deal package, paid at the beginning of the semester, for £4.95 per day. Students with a meal deal will visit the cafeteria every day they're on campus and, using a sticker on their ID card, select from a variety of hot and cold foods and snacks, totaling "five stars" in the meal deal system. Students do not need to carry cash, and they're still able to collect lunch if they forget their ID card by collecting a ticket from the MS office. Prices vary for each grade, owing to varying numbers of days spent on campus to allow for fields trips.
In addition, Grade 7-8 students may use their pre-loaded ID cards to purchase food and snacks at lunchtime or after school. ID cards can be topped up either online, or on campus via the Bookstore. Students may choose to use this option instead of a meal deal, or in addition to supplement their packed lunches. Questions about middle school lunches to Soumaya Bourra.
High school
High school students may use their pre-loaded ID cards to purchase food and snacks. ID cards can be topped up either online, or on campus via the Bookstore.
Cashless catering
ASL operates a system of cashless catering. Middle/high school students and employees can use their photo IDs to make purchases in the cafeteria, rather than bringing cash to school.
The photo ID works like a debit card, with purchase amounts deducted from each student's account. Parents can add to the account balance by sending money to the accounts department, or by using our online system, iPayimpact.
Cashless lunch FAQs
1. What is the purpose of the cashless system?
To shorten lunch lines by making payment faster. As many as 200 students pass through the cafeteria in a 10-minute period during a typical day. It is also more convenient for students not to have to bring cash to school every day. The system provides enhanced sales information, helping ASL caterers with menu-planning.
2. How do I check my balance?
Please use our online system, iPayimpact, to check students' account balances.
3. What if the card gets lost?
Loss of a card will not mean financial loss to the cardholder. The card itself does not hold the data; it is stored on a secure database. The process for replacing a lost photo ID will be the same as always: Inform ASL immediately, and the missing card will be deactivated. If the card is not found, a new one will be issued and will carry all the previous data and balance. ASL will charge £10 for a replacement card.
4. What happens if the card account runs out of credit?
MS students
Grade 6-8 students are allowed an overdraft facility of £5. When this is drawn upon, the cardholder and operator will be alerted. If this £5 limit is exceeded, the card cannot be used until it is back in credit.
HS students
No overdraft facility is in place for HS students, which means that purchases can only be made when the account has sufficient funds.
5. What if a student cannot find their card before going to lunch?
They should go to their divisional office.
6. Can I limit the amount my student spends each day?
Yes, parents can place daily or weekly spending limit on students' accounts. Parents will need to inform ASL in writing to activate this control.
7. What if I am unable to log into iPayimpact?
Email Steve Hardy, or call 07739420517 between 1:30 and 3 pm, Monday-Friday, for assistance. Please note—credit card details must not be sent via email or text. Those having difficulties with iPayimpact can contact Steve to request guidance, and will receive a call back to arrange payment.
Catering committee
The ASL catering committee assesses the school's catering program, provided by BaxterStorey. The committee is made up of representatives from the ASL community, and meets three times a year to share ideas and review comments in order to maintain a high quality food service at ASL. Meetings are also an opportunity for BaxterStorey to respond to issues raised and to rationalize the offerings of our catering program.
Topics discussed include food quality and service, waste reduction, recycling, nutrition, and the promotion of a healthy diet. Meeting reports are relayed to the admin team, who endorse any changes to food service at ASL. Information from these meetings is shared with parents via Take Note. For any comments or queries please contact Cosmo Murphy.
Catering philosophy
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