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We take nutrition seriously

SAGE helps students develop a positive relationship with food and make informed choices. Our managers and chefs use the SAGE Spotlight Program® to create menus with variety, balance and moderation. Our registered dietitians provide guidance and oversight to ensure that every meal meets SAGE standards.

Meet Our Dietitians

SAGE's team of registered dietitians is the backbone of our nutrition program. They create educational materials, review each menu at every venue, and communicate regularly with managers to ensure balance across the board. They analyze recipes for nutritional content, and assign color-coded Spotlight dots based on that data.

Our dietitians work closely with school nurses regarding food allergies. You might see them at a back-to-school night or a parents weekend. They're always available behind the scenes to ensure the nutritional balance and safety of each SAGE program.

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Lesley VogelDirector of Nutrition
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Melissa FreestoneDietitian
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Nicole SayreDietitian
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Jessica HollerDietitian
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Taylor ChanDietitian

Nutrition FAQs

Do you have a gluten-free menu? How do you handle allergies?

SAGE does not have specific gluten-free/allergen-free menus. Instead, the cornerstone of our program is variety. We believe the vast majority of participants in our dining program will be able to find a balanced meal that is safe for them to eat. Thus we offer an array of soups, hot entrees, deli selections, a salad bar, fresh fruits, as well as a variety of beverages that will satisfy most dietary needs.

Do you serve tree nuts or peanuts? What about peanut butter?

SAGE Dining Services believes there is a health risk involved with serving peanuts or tree nuts to children. Children with allergies to peanuts or tree nuts are more likely than children with other food allergies to experience anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction that can be induced by airborne exposure, skin exposure or ingestion of tree nuts or peanuts. Due to these risks, SAGE does not serve peanuts, tree nuts or nut oils to school age children in the dining hall. We allow each school to determine whether, and how, peanut butter may be served.

How do you handle food allergies?

SAGE is committed to providing a safe and healthful dining environment for all our patrons. We understand the growing incidence of food allergies in our society, and we have crafted our programs to accommodate most individuals safely and sustainably.

Our "Serve It Safely" initiative educates our staff and supports students in addressing the most common food allergens. Our registered dietitians serve as a resource for our staff, responding to any questions or concerns in handling food allergies.

As most students with food allergies face a lifetime of managing their condition, we do not make special meals, but create varied menus that feature safe foods. SAGE prepares cycle menus in advance, and we particularly encourage students with allergies to review these menus at the beginning of each new cycle. SAGE's Food Service Directors, as well as our service personnel, are happy to discuss the day's menu, recipes and ingredient lists for the foods served in the dining hall.

In addition, we have an "open kitchen" policy, which allows parents and students to schedule a time to go through our inventory to check for hidden allergens. Cycle menus change seasonally. When these revisions occur, we encourage interested parties to return to the kitchen to review the new menu, food ingredient lists and recipes.

How does SAGE source the food it serves? Do you serve organic or sustainable foods? How about hormone- and antibiotic-free animal products?

SAGE's menus are custom-designed for each school community. Our menus change seasonally to reflect the fresh product available in each market. We source local food wherever possible. We enthusiastically support school gardens and we love to serve locally grown food in our kitchens.

We serve organic products whenever feasible. Our milk is antibiotic- and added hormone-free. Our shell eggs are cage-free and Certified Humane. We serve only dolphin-safe tuna, packed in water. We support the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guidelines and strive to increase our purchases of sustainable seafood. We serve shade-grown coffee that is certified Fair Trade.

We are very proud of our sustainable purchasing practices and we continue to evolve our purchasing practices to ensure the highest quality, sustainable products for our customers.

If the SAGE Spotlight Program® says to limit foods with red Spotlight dots, why does SAGE serve them at all?

The Spotlight program's message is that all foods have a place in a balanced diet, and that red Spotlight foods should be enjoyed in moderation, balanced with yellow and green dot items. Simply not serving certain foods doesn't teach these principles to students and doesn't help them develop healthy eating habits. Many red dot foods are nutrient-dense. A slice of cheese pizza, for example, is packed with calcium, an essential nutrient for bone health.

A positive relationship with food develops at a young age, and the Spotlight program teaches there are no "bad foods" or "good foods." These messages are reinforced by SAGE's nutrition education materials, which provide additional guidance on healthy eating. Our goal at SAGE is to help students embrace the wonderful array of foods that our world has to offer, including red Spotlight foods, while maintaining a balanced approach.

Is coconut a tree nut?

Prior to 2006, the USDA did not consider coconut a tree nut. There continues to be limited research to support the classification of coconut as a tree nut. Further, there are few individuals diagnosed with coconut allergies.

Consequently, SAGE does not treat coconuts as tree nuts. SAGE managers are free to use coconut in preparation of menu items. However, we counsel our managers to inform tree nut-allergic students and their parents of this policy, so students can make informed decisions about what to eat.

Some schools are banning chocolate milk. What do you think about it?

SAGE works with school communities to deliver customized programs to fit the needs of everyone involved. There are many factors that influence food offerings. Parents, students, school administrators and SAGE are all part of the conversation. There is no right or wrong answer; rather, it's about finding the answer that works best for that community. Sometimes a decision is made to not serve certain foods at all, while in other communities the decision is made to limit consumption, such as only offering the choice to older students.

SAGE and the Spotlight program support varied food offerings and educated choices, as students will make decisions regarding food for the rest of their life. SAGE provides educational materials to reinforce the message of balanced food choices.

What are your nutrition standards?

Our school nutrition policy aims to promote a healthy lifestyle for all of our clients. Here is what we do:

● We cook from scratch reducing use of processed foods.
● We use fresh vegetables and fruits.
● We offer fresh salads and house-made dressings.
● We offer a variety of whole-grain breads, bagels and rolls.
● We house-roast deli meats.
● We cook with trans fat-free oils and MSG-free seasonings.
● We serve antibiotic- and hormone-free milk.
● We use cage-free, Certified Humane® shell eggs.
● We use local and campus-grown ingredients.
● We offer substantial vegetarian and vegan options.

What's the difference between a registered dietitian (RD) and a nutritionist?

The "RD" credential is a legally protected title that can only be used by practitioners who are authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).

Individuals with the RD credential have fulfilled specific requirements, including having earned at least a bachelor's degree, completed a supervised practice program and passed a registration examination. They must also maintain continuing education requirements for re-certification.

Some RDs may call themselves "nutritionists," but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians, according to the AND. The definition and requirements for the term "nutritionist" vary. Some states have licensure laws that define the range of practice for someone using the designation "nutritionist," but in other states, virtually anyone can call him- or herself a "nutritionist," regardless of education or training, the AND says.

What's the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?

Many people think the terms food allergy and food intolerance mean the same thing. They do not.

A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to a certain food. The most common form of an immune system reaction occurs when the body creates immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against the food. When these IgE antibodies react with the food, histamine and other chemicals (called "mediators") are released, causing hives, asthma or other symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Food intolerance, unlike a food allergy, does not involve the immune system and is not life-threatening. Lactose intolerance, trouble digesting the milk sugar lactose, is a common example. Symptoms may include abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea.

Why doesn't SAGE post calories in schools?

Posting calories abets and exacerbates eating disorders among young people, and we see that as violating our mission. At one time, we did post this information. To our dismay, the heads of some of our girls schools asked us to stop, explaining that posting calories, in their words, allowed students with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia to "keep score" on how they were doing. Abiding by their wishes, we dropped this labeling. In 2005 we rolled out our SAGE Spotlight Program®. This program is designed to solve the calorie problem and correct the very real issue of portion size and recipe variation.

Lesley Vogel

Lesley Vogel is SAGE’s Director of Nutrition.

She received her bachelor's degree in food and nutrition from Florida State University and completed her dietetic internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Before joining SAGE, Lesley spent over 20 years in clinical practice, first providing care at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and later educating corporate clients, families, and students through a community-based practice.

As the parent of a child with a nut allergy, Lesley has firsthand experience managing the complexities of food allergies. She enjoys sharing this expertise and her passion for nutrition with SAGE communities.

Lesley's hobbies include hiking, skiing, kayaking, and spending time with family and friends.

Melissa Freestone

Melissa Freestone graduated from West Chester University with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Delaware. She served as the Clinical Nutrition Division Chair for the Maryland Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, completed her OSHA Certificate, and is ServSafe® certified.

Prior to joining SAGE, Melissa was the Clinical Nutrition Manager at Sheppard Pratt Health System, a mental health provider. In this role, she oversaw patient services and the clinical program. She focused particularly on recipe compliance, allergen reporting, patient safety, and staff education.

Melissa enjoys staying active with her two young children and her dog.

Nicole Sayre

Nicole Sayre received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics with a concentration in pediatrics from the University of Delaware. Before joining SAGE, she was a dietitian at Greater Baltimore Medical Center and at a major retail grocery company where she taught consumers through seminars, individual and group counseling sessions, and food demonstrations.

In her free time, Nicole enjoys trying new recipes and spending time with her husband and dog.

Jessica Holler

Jessica Holler has a bachelor’s in nutritional sciences from Morgan State University, a bachelor’s in business administration from Towson University, and a master’s from Loyola University Maryland. She is a Registered Dietitian licensed in Maryland and is ServSafe® certified.

Prior to joining SAGE, Jessica was a dietitian at the University of Maryland Medical Center where she worked with pediatric and neonatal patients. Before her career in nutrition, Jessica was a senior marketing professional at an engineering company.

Jessica is married with two children, one of whom has a food allergy. She enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and attending concerts.

Taylor Chan

Taylor Chan joins SAGE as a recent graduate of Bradley University with a master’s degree in nutrition and wellness.

Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from the University of Maryland where she was president of the Food Recovery Network. In this role, she managed a program that resulted in over 60,000 pounds of food donated to local charities. While at Bradley, Taylor interned for Caterpillar, Inc., Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Illinois Cancer Care’s outpatient healthcare team, and the university’s dining program.

In addition to being a Registered Dietitian, Taylor is also a Certified Personal Trainer, and enjoys traveling, hiking, and photography.