Student Life

Lunch Program

Healthy Lunch Program

JCDS offers a voluntary lunch service that provides delicious, healthy, and nutritious meals that are enjoyed daily by students, faculty, and staff.

Chef Jim Gruebel works to provide a healthy selection of entrees along with fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products. JCDS encourages healthy choices for both meals and snacks by educating our students and introducing them to new choices in the dining room. 

At JCDS Lunch is an opportunity for connections - an important theme at JCDS. In everything we do, we are connecting with someone. Teachers and staff are encouraged to eat with the students, strengthening the bonds between them. Once a week older students eat with their younger buddies. 

Meet Chef Jim

JCDS is fortunate to have Chef Jim Gruebel at the helm of our dining program. Chef Jim has over 20 years experience in the food service industry. He has worked alongside some of the best chefs in Jacksonville at such fine dining establishments as BB’s, Serenata Beach Club, Sawgrass Marriott, Restaurant Medure, Matthews, and M Shack. 

JCDS is proud to support Chef Jim in his goal to prepare wholesome and nutritious food by using the freshest ingredients possible and to cook food from scratch daily for his small customers, our students. Chef Jim's knowledge of nutrition and food allergies is important to the safety and well-being of our community.

Some of Chef Jim's best and most popular offerings for school lunch include:

• Teriyaki Chicken Thighs with Vegetables

• Pasta with Homemade Bolognese Sauce

• Pulled Pork Sandwich

• Chicken Parmesan

• Flatbread Pizza

• Breakfast for Lunch

• Entrée Salad (offered daily)