There are different requirements for different age groups for certain components. For example, at the high school level, we need to offer 10 to 12 bread/grain servings each week. At the middle school we need to offer 8 to 10 bread/grain servings each week. At the elementary level, we offer 8 to 9 servings of bread/grain items each week.
Example one of a reimbursable lunch:
The main item is whole grain spaghetti with meat sauce. We put the pasta and meat sauce on the student’s tray. Because it contains a bread/grain component and the meat component, the student then only needs to take a serving of a fruit or vegetable to meet the minimum requirement for a reimbursable meal. We will not charge your student to take a carton of milk or other item offered as part of the regular lunch, such as one breadstick.
Example two of a reimbursable lunch:
The main item is chili. The chili counts as the meat/meat alternate item. Students would have to take two more components for us to count that as a reimbursable meal. They could choose from an 8 oz. carton of milk, a serving of fruit, a serving of vegetables, or a serving of a bread/grain item. Again, one of the three components on their tray has to be a serving of a fruit or vegetable.
Breakfast:
At breakfast, we must offer four food items from three required food components:
Offer vs. serve at breakfast requires students to take three of the four items offered, including at least 1/2 cup of fruit and/or vegetables.
Example one of a reimbursable breakfast:
Whole grain pancakes, ½ cup fruit, and a carton of milk.
Example two of a reimbursable breakfast:
Cereal (1 oz container), one piece of toast or one package of graham crackers, one carton of milk, and ½ cup of fruit.
We train our kitchen staff to ensure that each tray holds a reimbursable meal!