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Adult Meals

Adult meals are not eligible for federal or state reimbursement, and income from such meals must accrue to the food service program. For economy and to avoid student payments being used to reduce the price to adults, adults should be offered the same menu(s) as children.

Program Adults. Meals served to adults directly involved in the administration and operation of the program may, at the discretion of the LEA, be furnished without charge. In this case, meal cost may be attributed to program operation and supported by revenues to the program. The determination of which individuals to include and what portion of their services to attribute to program operation is left to state and local officials.

Nonprogram Adults. The cost of meals served to adults not directly involved in the operation of the food service program may not be financed by children's payments, state or federal reimbursements, or USDA commodities. Costs must be offset by adult payments or revenue from other sources.

While school and district staff and official visitors may participate in the meal service, it is clearly not the intent of the programs to include adults in food service. Nonprogram adults eligible to buy a school lunch include district and school employees, official visitors in the school during lunchtime, and parents who are at school on official business or invited to come during special activities such as National School Lunch Week.

Nonprogram adults who may not have school lunch include regular delivery or pick-up personnel; friends, spouses, or other relatives of school or district employees (unless they are in the school on official business); and construction workers.

Adult Prices. The price of adult meals is set by the district, must be sufficient to cover the full cost of the meal, and must equal or exceed the highest child's reimbursement, including the value of any USDA-donated foods and state support. Adult portions should be specific and consistent throughout the district. The regular price entitles an adult to a portion planned for a high school student. If larger or double portions are served, the price must increase proportionately. Payment must be received for all food consumed. Leftover food should not be offered to adults without proper payment, and records must be maintained.

All adults in a district should pay the same price for the full meal. If special services are provided to adults, the additional cost should be recovered. If adults wish to choose only parts of the lunch offered to children, the charges should cover the full cost of the selected items, including labor and the value of any commodities.

Income is anticipated from all meals served to nonprogram adults, and auditable records must be available. Any reduction of price to adults must be made up from other district funds.