How many choices do you offer?

 A bunch. Cool Fuel is totally customizable, unlike the typical school-based lunch program. You can choose from a wide range of healthy, all-natural and/or organic entrees and sides that go from simple to sophisticated in a kid-like way. What's better is that we offer all of these choices everyday. Click here for our current menu.

  Does the menu ever change?

 You bet, every two months or so. We change it up for two reasons: First of all, one of our goals is to use as much locally grown produce as possible, so when the availability of these items fluctuates, our menu items will reflect what's being harvested locally. Secondly, we know how hard it can be to find those things that kids like to eat, so we are always open to comments and suggestions from you that will help us improve our menu.

 Do you support local farms?

 Yes, we are working with small organic farms in Hillsborough, Sarasota and Bradenton to get as much of our produce as possible through local channels. We see it as a win-win for all parties. Plus, local stuff just tastes better (at least that's our opinion anyway). Check our links page to see the local farms we support.

 Can you provide nutritional info for a CoolFuel lunch?

  Yes, our website will display the nutritional analysis of every item you select for your child's lunch. In the same format as on any standard packaging.

 Who determines your menu?

 Our staff nutritionist, Sherri Pinero, a Registered Dietician in Southern California, has created each entree so that they are all properly balanced according to the highest nutritional standards. She analyzes and evaluates all entrees and side items before we post them to our menu. She is available for questions via our ask Sherri page, or you can link to her website here – www.recipeanalysis.com.

 How do we sign up?

 Easy, click here to go directly to our registration page, or click on our home page which has a registration box in the lower right hand corner. The process is simple and we guide you through the whole way. We just need you to create a unique login, a password and then enter some basic information about where your child attends school. Things like grade, teacher, etc.

 How secure is my information?

 Your information is safe with Cool Fuel. First, we do not share or sell your information with anyone or any company, no matter what. We will use your information to communicate with you regarding your Cool Fuel account status and updates, but won't give it out, period. Second, when you enter credit card information, it is not stored on the Cool Fuel servers or database, we only collect information about you to offer great products and services to your family. All credit Card data is handled by World Famous commerce processor Paypal and they have the means to keep it secure and safe. To read more about Paypal, click here.

To read more about Cool Fuel policies, visit our Privacy Policy or Terms of use pages..

  What if my school is not listed as a participant?

 Let us know. Cool Fuel would like to make healthy lunches for your kids at any Tampa Bay area school. Since we just arrived, maybe your school doesn't know about us yet. Email us at info@fuel4lunch.com if you think other parents at your school would also be interested.

  How much does it cost?

 Lunches range from $5.25 to $6.75 based on portion size and whether or not you choose one of our all-organic options. Every lunch includes an entree, two sides, a bottled water, condiments and a surprise. We can also provide a specialty beverage at an additional cost.

  How do I pay?

 By purchasing "credits" on our website. You can buy as many or as few credits as you would like at anytime. Credits are purchased through our commerce partner Paypal and only need to be purchased when you are "Running Low". The Cool Fuel interactive ordering system will alert you to a "Running Low" status and will also alert you when you have "Run Out" of credits and offer the proper links to get you filled up with credits. The credit system works similar to other school lunch programs and offers convenience as you do not have to pull out your credit card each time.

  Do I have to sign a contract?

 Absolutely not. You can buy two weeks worth at one time or make your orders on an individual basis. At Cool Fuel, you can come and go as you please — our kitchen is always open for you.

  Where are your lunches made?

 All lunches are prepared fresh daily at our Cool Fuel kitchen in south Tampa. Food safety and cleanliness are extremely important to our mission as a healthy school lunch provider and we take it upon ourselves to consistently exceed the standard food safety guidelines. Our facility has been inspected and approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations. In other words, you better believe we run a tight ship.

  What precautions do you take to keep lunches fresh?

 We prepare and pack every lunch daily; We send lunches in a food-certified Bio-Pak container; And we transport them to schools in a custom-designed, insulated cold-pack which can maintain a 40-degree temperature for over six hours. Trust us, it’s way better than the old metal lunch boxes from back in the day.

  Where do you get your food?

 We like to use Boar's Head for the majority of our sandwich meats. For fruits and veggies, we prefer local farms such as Hydro Harvest, Sarasota Farms, Sweetwater Farms and Geraldson Community Farms when possible. For items that aren't grown locally or in season, we use an organic specialty supplier. For all other items we use various Southeast health food distributors.

  When do I place my child's order?

 Our website is open 24/7 to take your order when it's convenient for you. We do however, require that you order two days in advance so that we can best plan and prepare your meal and delivery schedule. That means if you would like a meal delivered to your child’s school on Thursday, we will need to receive your order by midnight Monday. Keep in mind, you may order for two weeks at a time on one visit, saving you from having to log in every day and select meals.

  What if my child is absent on a day we ordered Cool Fuel?

 You can cancel an order at anytime up to 48 hours before the delivery date.

  Is your packaging environmentally safe?

 Cool Fuel is dedicated to being as earth-friendly as possible. Our "lunch box" is made with a natural “kraft” paper fiber that is manufactured with recycled materials. We are in the process of searching for lunch containers made from corn and sugar cane fibers that are 100% compostable. But unfortunately, at the moment, the containers are cost prohibitive. Cool Fuel can leave an "empty tank" container at each school for kids to recycle their empty water bottles. We can also pick them up as needed and deposit them at the Louise Graham Regeneration Center. It's our goal to one day have a completely compostable package that can be tied in to an organic school sponsored garden.

  Why do you require a minimum of 10 credits, and what if I have a balance left over at the end of the school year?

 Great question; it's based on the requirements of the programmers and the "credits" system. To be able to allow parents to "add" or "change" an order after it was once created, the system needed to establish a "base" amount, and that worked out to be ten (10) credits. If you have ANY balance left over, or if you were to change schools, or anything like that, just let us know. We'll gladly refund any balance. But don't forget us when summer camp comes along, we can most likely provide meals for your child's camp too!

  What does organic mean?

 To be certified organic, products must be grown and manufactured in a manner that adheres to standards set by the country they are sold in, namely the United States National Organic Program (NOP) Standards. What these standards promote and enforce is chemical-free, fresh or minimally processed food. All-in-all, organic foods make less of an environmental impact, leave you with no concerns of pesticide residue and just plain taste better.