Dining

Chicken cilantro lime soup, grilled cheese with green chile and tomato, penne pasta with creamy pesto, and butternut squash soup with slices of warm, fresh baguette. If you thought you knew what cafeteria food was all about, think again. At Ojai Valley School, every meal is prepared by our friendly kitchen staff with an emphasis on healthy, delicious food using the finest ingredients and locally fresh produce.

Resident Students

Resident students are served three meals each day, starting with a hearty and nutritious breakfast. Lunch is served to day and resident students in either our dining hall or outdoor eating area. And dinner is served in the evening in the dining hall.

Special events, such as resident students' birthdays, Thanksgiving, or Chinese New Year, are opportunities to celebrate with friends. On the weekends, resident enjoy meals on campus and often have the opportunity to visit downtown Ojai to pick up snacks from the local market, or enjoy ice cream or frozen yogurt with friends.

Each week, resident students participate in one formal dress dinner, a long-standing tradition at Ojai Valley School. Upon entering the dining hall, resident students and guests shake hands with the Head of School. As soft music plays in the background, conversation around the dinner table is enjoyed by all. After dinner the Head of School gives a short talk and then excuses the students to enjoy some form of entertainment which varies from student recitals, guest speakers, or slide shows of activities.

Day Students

Part of the package at the Ojai Valley School is a hot lunch that is sure to warm the tummy and the heart. The lunch menu features local and organic produce, as much as possible, and cuisine as diverse as our student body.

From a young age, children are shown how to enjoy fruit, vegetables, protein and whole grains at every meal. Our kitchen service also meets the needs of vegetarians offering a vegetarian option each day.  Some of these entrees include tofu and eggplant, falafel with tahini, and a salad bar complete with edamame, red beans and sunflower seeds. And who can resist ending the meal with a rich chocolatey brownie, oatmeal raisin cookie or zesty lemon bar?  No one’s ever gone hungry in our kitchen.