What Is A Reimbursable Meal?

• A reimbursable meal is mandated by USDA and every school participating in the National School Lunch and/or Breakfast Program must offer certain components to students every day.  As long as the school participates in Offer vs. Serve, students do not have to take every component offered.  Below are the component requirements set by USDA based on meal and grade.
  • Lunch*
    • PreK - 8th Grade
      • Fruit - 1/2 cup
      • Vegetables - 3/4 cup
      • Grains - 1 oz
      • Meat/Meat Alternate - 1 oz
      • Milk - 1 cup
    • 9th - 12th Grade
      
      • Fruit - 1 cup
      • Vegetables - 1 cup
      • Grains - 2 oz
      • Meat/Meat Alternate - 2 oz
      • Milk - 1 cup
  • Breakfast**
    • Prek - 12th Grade
      • Fruit - 1 cup (including 1/2 cup juice)
      • Grains - 1 oz
      • Milk - 1 cup

*For lunch, each plate must have at least 3 components and 1 component must be a fruit or vegetable to be counted as reimbursable.  If the plate does not contain these items, the student will be charged ala carte pricing.

**For breakfast, each plate must have at least 3 items and 1 item must be a fruit.  4 items must be offered to students each breakfast.

What Does Offer Vs. Serve Mean?

• A school that is 'serve only', gives every component (fruit, vegetables, grains, meat, and milk) to every student purchasing a reimbursable meal.
• A school that practices 'Offer Vs. Serve' offers every component to students as part of a reimbursable meal, but students are allowed to reject up to 2 components and still have a reimbursable meal.  For a reimbursable meal, a student must take at least one serving of fruit or vegetable and 2 other components.

Why participate in Offer Vs. Serve?

• The purpose of offer vs. serve is to reduce plate waste and allow students a choice in what they wish to have for breakfast and lunch.  However, the student may take every component offered.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or 2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: program.intake@usda.gov This institution is an equal opportunity provider