What Makes a School Meal
Reimbursable Meal Offerings
All menus offered in the cafeteria are planned by a Registered Dietitian and meet the nutritional guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). When a student consumes a complete, reimbursable breakfast, they receive ¼ of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for their age for the day. When a student consumes the complete, reimbursable lunch, they receive 1/3 of the RDA’s for their age for the day.
School Breakfast – ALL AGES:
Reimbursable breakfast meals are required to meet both daily and weekly requirements for components and weekly requirements for nutrients including calories, saturated fat, sodium, and trans fat. These specifics are required by USDA and TDA and can be found in more detail at www.squaremeals.com.
Breakfast meals consist of four (4) food components. Students can but do not have to take all offered items including the milk. Students may choose one of each type of offering. However, they must at a minimum take the entrée (2 oz. of grain or 1 oz. of grain and 1 oz. of meat/meat alternate (MA)) in addition to ½ cup of fruit or 100% fruit juice serving for the meal to be reimbursable. Students who do not wish to take the entrée, must take all of the other offerings. Students who do not wish to take the minimum required offerings for the breakfast are able to do so but will be charged a la carte prices because the meal is not considered reimbursable.
Below are examples of all breakfast offerings and minimum breakfast requirements:
| components | breakfast offerings | serving |
|---|---|---|
| Entree Juice Fruit Milk (2) |
Cinnamon Roll Orange Juice Apple Milk |
2 oz Grain 1/2 cup 100% Fruit Juice 1/2 cup fruit 1/2 cup milk |
Students may take all offerings.
| components |
breakfast offerings | serving |
|---|---|---|
|
Cinnamon Roll
|
Cinnamon Roll Apple |
Orange Juice Apple Milk |
For meal to be reimbursable, students must take one of the above meal offering combinations.
School Lunch:
ELEMENTARY and MIDDLE SCHOOLS:
Reimbursable lunch meals are required to meet both daily and weekly requirements for components and weekly requirements for nutrients including calories, saturated fat, sodium, and trans fat. These specifics are required by USDA and TDA and can be found in more detail at www.squaremeals.com.
Elementary and middle school lunches consist of five (5) components. Students can but do not have to take all offered items including the milk. Students may choose one of each type of offering. However, they must at a minimum take the entrée (2 oz. of grain and 1 oz. of meat/meat alternate (MA)) in addition to ½ cup of vegetable or fruit serving. Students who do not wish to take the entrée, must take all of the other offerings. Students who do not wish to take the minimum required offerings for the lunch are able to do so but will be charged a la carte prices because the meal is not considered reimbursable.
Below are examples of all lunch offerings and minimum lunch requirements:
| components | breakfast offerings | serving |
|---|---|---|
| Entree 1st Vegetable 2nd Vegetable Fruit Milk |
Pizza Slice Broccoli Baby Carrots Pear Milk |
2 oz Grain and 1 oz Meat/MA 1/2 cup veggie - dark green 1/2 cup veggie - red/orange 1/2 cup fruit 1/2 cup milk |
Students may take all offerings.
OR
Minimum Components for Lunch
| Pizza Slice Broccoli |
Pizza Slice Baby Carrots |
| Pizza Slice Pear |
Broccoli Baby Carrots Pear Milk |
For meal to be reimbursable, students must take one of the above meal offering combinations.
- PLEASE NOTE: Pre-K is required to have different meal components/offerings depending on the meal service format that the school schedule requires.
HIGH SCHOOLS:
High Schools lunch consists of six items. Students do not have to take all items, and do not have to take milk. Students may choose at a minimum an Entrée plus one vegetable or fruit serving. Students not choosing the entrée must take all of the other items. Students not taking the minimum required for the lunch will be charged a la carte prices.
Below are examples of a full lunch and partial lunch that will be charged the meal price:
| components | breakfast offerings | serving |
|---|---|---|
| Entree 1st Vegetable 2nd Vegetable 1st Fruit 2nd Fruit Milk |
Pizza Slice Broccoli Baby Carrots Pear Apple Milk |
2 oz Grain and 1 oz Meat/MA 1/2 cup veggie - dark green 1/2 cup veggie - red/orange 1/2 cup fruit 1/2 cup fruit 1/2 cup milk |
Students may take all offerings.
OR
Minimum Components for Lunch
| Pizza Slice Broccoli |
Pizza Slice Baby Carrots |
| Pizza Slice Pear |
Pizza Slice Apple |
| For meal to be reimbursable, students must take one of the above meal offering combinations | Broccoli Baby Carrots Pear Apple Milk |
School Meals are nutritious
- Texas schools have their menus analyzed for nutritional content as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- The 2001 School Nutrition Dietary Assessment-II found that school meals continue to meet or exceed virtually all of the recommended daily allowances (RDA) for key nutrients analyzed for school breakfast and lunches.
School Meals promote healthy eating habits
- School is one of the few places where you can find food in the correct portion sizes according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- Students who eat school lunch consume 29% less calories from fat and twice as many servings of fruits and vegetables.
- Milk continues to be the most reliable source of calcium. Students are encouraged to choose milk with each meal.
- Texas schools serve the lower fat versions of milk, cheeses, gravies, meats, breads and other foods. According to the American Dietetic Association, all foods can fit into a healthy diet when eaten in moderation.
School Meals play an integral part in a child’s education
- Students who eat breakfast have fewer absences, disciplinary problems, and trips to the school nurse. They have better overall academic performance! Skipping breakfast can leave your child tired and looking for less healthy foods later in the day.
- Students who eat school meals are exposed to a wide variety of foods including many different fruits and vegetables each month.
School Meals are safe
- CFBISD school cafeteria managers are certified food handlers by Texas Dept. of Human Services and the National Restaurant Associations Serv-Safe Program.
- All cafeterias have implemented HACCP practices to ensure the highest level of food safety