FAQs

A.  We do not require an application for free meals.  We are operating under the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision, which allow us to serve meals to students at no charge.

A.  If you receive assistance from a state program such as SNAP, TANF, or another program, you may receive a letter from us qualifying you for Direct Certification.  Keep this letter as proof that you qualify for services.

A.  We are federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and completely self-supporting. 

A.  All of our menu options have been tested with students.  We require 80% acceptability from students before we add items or recipes to our menu. 

A.  All of our meals comply with USDA meal pattern requirements.  We are required to serve whole grains at each meal, in addition to a variety of vegetables, including those from the ‘starchy’ sub-group. Each food group we offer has a required serving size associated with it, based specific age groups. 

• USDA’s breakfast requirements
• USDA's lunch meal requirements

A.  Water is not part of the USDA meal pattern; however, we are required to ensure students have access to potable water during meal times as part of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.  Where water fountains are not accessible, we make cold tap water available for students.

A.  Students are not required to select* milk at meals.  Students may select any three items at breakfast (one of the three must be ½ cup of fruit).  At lunch, students are required to select menu items from three of the five food groups (one of the three must be at least ½ cup fruit or ½ cup vegetable).  Students are not required to select an entrée or milk.  *Please note that for meals that are packaged as a grab-n-go include all required items.

A.  Students must select three items, including one serving of fruit or vegetable, for them to be complimentary. We encourage students to supplement packed lunches with a milk, a fruit, and a vegetable from us at no charge.

A.  Our milk, like most of our food, is specially formulated for school meals.  It contains less sugar than milk you find in the grocery store.  Many students won’t drink plain, unflavored milk.  We offer flavored milk, along with unflavored, so students will drink it.  Milk contains calcium, protein and other essential nutrients that promote good health.