Food Days

Food Days is back for the 2025-2026 school year with a new website! Monday, August 25 is the 1st day of service.  Food Days is a fundraising program that offers Bobcat parents the opportunity to order hot lunches through local vendors.  PTO volunteers distribute those lunches to students on a daily basis.  Ordering meals through the Food Days program is optional. It is not required.  It is simply a program that allows parents some options and flexibility in how they manage lunches for their children.  It is also a great way to support the PTO.

The PTO will again be partnering with Lunch Solutions for the 2025-2026 school year.  Lunch Solutions is a company that works directly with schools in organizing and managing their Food Days type programming. 

The following information outline what parents can expect with Food Days 2025-2026.

When to Order

Changes cannot be made to orders once the ordering window has closed.

How to Order on New Lunch Solutions Website

1. Go to: https://lunchsolutions.ptgms.com/braeside (save this in your Bookmarks!)
   
   
2. Click on Create Account. This is a new website so you must create a new account! Enter your information and then proceed to YOUR STUDENT(S) information. Teacher/grade information is very important for correct delivery!
   
   
3. Once your student(s) information is correct and complete click on Shop.
   
   
4. Choose your student in the drop down and begin ordering. Just click on the item in the calendar you wish to order.
   
   
5. Click on the Cart when finished to review your selections and for payment selection type and to Submit your Order.
   
   
6. You can then DOWNLOAD your orders into your calendar at the Lunch Order Appointments.
   
   
7. PRINT or EDIT your order at the Orders/Payments screen.
   
   
8. Any questions contact Robin at lunchsolutions4braeside@gmail.com.
   

Lunch is available Monday through Friday. You may order monthly following the schedule posted above.

Changes/Edits can be made to your order at the Orders and Payments screen.
They must be done by Thursday at 10:00 am of the week before!

Meal Costs and Processing Payments

• Individual meals average in price between $7.00 and $8.00.
• All credit card fees are worked in to the final meal price.
• Illinois state sales tax is added to each order.
• Payments for Food Days orders are processed through PayPal on the Lunch Solutions website.
• Parents do not have to have a PayPal account to place orders and can make payments through the system as a PayPal guest.

Preparation and Delivery

• Lunches will be provided by local vendors in the Lunch Solutions network.
• Lunches will be delivered to the school in individual servings labeled with each child's name, grade, teacher and dietary specifications.

Food Day Volunteer Guidelines

• Volunteers will be screened during each visit to Braeside. Please bring your DRIVERS LICENSE. The process takes approximately 5 minutes. 
• Volunteers are expected to arrive promptly at 11:30am and stay until 12:40pm.
• Once you are buzzed into the office, the serving sheets will be in a file in the front office. Ms. Arrendondo will highlight the students who have dietary restrictions. Please pay close attention to what they are receiving as well as cross check the label that is on their lunch. 
• After the food is delivered, bring all of the bags to the lunchroom.
• There are two lunch periods.
• 3, 4, and 5 11:50-12:15
• K, 1, and 2 12:15-12:40

• Once grade level lunches are on the appropriate serving table, serving sheets should be used to ensure that all orders are accounted for. The sooner we recognize a missing order, the sooner we can have a replacement on the way.
• Please contact Robin Bear (Lunch Solutions Coordinator) if there is a missing order. If you are unable to reach Robin, the second line of contact should be the vendor. Vendor information is located at the top of the serving sheets. 
  • Robin Bear (Lunch Solutions Coordinator): 847-560-6227
  • Call the vendor directly
• All orders should be organized in alphabetical order on the serving tables.
• Food Day volunteers will support students in following Zero Waste protocol. Student volunteers from the Zero Waste Club (beginning in October) will do most of the heavy lifting.
• Please ensure that bins are set up with the correct signage and placed in the following order:
  
  • 1. Compost (green compost bag)
  • 2. Trash (clear bag)
  • 3. Recycling (clear bag)
• Zero Waste Tidbits: 

• 1. If in doubt, throw it out (trash). No plastic in the compost.
• 2. Pizza boxes get stacked flat on the floor and then put in the trash (there’s too many of them to go in the compost bin).
• 3. The empty plastic containers must go in the trash due to food residue.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

My student is absent, however they ordered a hot lunch. Can I pick it up from school? 

Yes! If you would like to pick up your student’s hot lunch, please fill out this Google Form by 10:30am. Hot lunches should be picked up by 1:00pm, otherwise they will be discarded.

I signed up to volunteer, yet I am no longer able to come in. Who should I contact?

In the event that you are unable to volunteer, please do your best to find a replacement. If you cannot find an alternate, reach out to Lexi and/or Allie. 

I want to volunteer, however I am unable to commit to twice a month. Is there a sub list?

Yes! We will be sending out a Google form where you can indicate if you would like to be put on the Food Days sub list. 

Will I be reminded when it is my day to volunteer?

This year you will receive two reminders! One will be from Membership Toolkit and one will be from Lexi or Allie every Sunday.

Student Behavior Expectations

1. Parents are welcome to give brief redirections to students who might need reminders to stay in their seats or use a friendly tone of voice.
2. Any larger concerns about student conduct should be brought to the attention of a lunch supervisor or Mrs. Kahn.
3. In order to respect student privacy, please refrain from taking photos of any students during lunch.

Questions about Lunch Volunteering:

• Lexi Schneider: 847-707-9153
• Allie Davidson: 847-274-383

For technical questions pertaining to the Lunch Solutions website including how to register or place and pay for orders, please reach out to Lunch Solutions at lunchsolutions4braeside@gmail.com

Ready to get started?  Click the link below.