Sharing as a Community

Due to updated health and safety guidelines, the Food Program is currently suspended.

At GBS, we strive to foster an environment that nurtures children’s senses: What are they feeling with their hands? What are they seeing, smelling, and tasting? Our food program relates children to a sense of community, well-being and gratitude, as well as dedication to stewardship of the earth.    

An organic, wholesome and sustainable snack and lunch are prepared fresh and provided for students every day, except for some outdoor days.  This happens in our campus kitchen and our outdoor farm kitchen. Children, teachers, parents and a school chef all take some part in growing and preparing school meals every day. We do this because we believe:
  • It is important to eat and share food as a community
  • Eating the same food offers the possibility of food equity
  • The interconnectedness of us all, including the earth, becomes apparent
  • Older children can contribute to the all school meals as part of their responsibility to the school
  • Relieving stress for the families and faculty/staff who would otherwise need to individually prepare food every morning at home is also a model of sustainability and self-care
  • Providing food reduces garbage as we strive towards zero-waste
  • We can hold a standard for nutrition
  • Trying new foods builds flexibility and expands our sense perceptions
  • Children can learn etiquette and service around receiving and sharing food
  • Children involved in food preparation gain self-confidence and self-reliance through fine and gross-motor skills 
  • Growing your own food teaches how to provide for one's own sustenance with responsibility for the earth and community-mindedness 
  • By celebrating over a shared meal, students experience a ritual, from whole to parts

The children all bring a fruit and a vegetable to school, from home, once a week. These contributions are incorporated into our meals, typically into our class-made vegetable soups or snacks. Our menu offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options without making children feel excluded or different. If a child has more specific dietary restrictions, we do our best to meet those needs.  

Previous sample menu.
"Earth who gives to us this food
Sun who makes it ripe and good
Dear Sun above and Earth below
Our loving thanks to you we show"
Cookbook available for purchase in our office.