Introduction and Overview

Meal Service

Reimbursable Meals. A reimbursable meal is one (a) served to children enrolled in the educational program of the school who are in attendance at the time of the meal service (including kindergarten or Head Start children), (b) claimed by an approved eligibility category, and (c) meeting the minimum meal-pattern requirements.

Children enrolled in any school within the LEA but visiting in another school may be claimed as though they were in their own school. Children visiting from a school in another LEA may also be claimed at the paid rate. Eligible children's meals may be claimed in free or reduced-price categories if copies of the children's free and reduced-price applications are filed with the host LEA/school.

Nonreimbursable Meals. Reimbursement is available only for approved children's meals which meet program requirements. No other meals or food items are reimbursable.

Adult meals and meals served to children who are not enrolled in the school are not eligible for federal or state reimbursement, and income from such meals must go to the program. Meals served to adults directly involved in the administration and operation of the program may, at the option of the LEA, be furnished without charge. In this case, meal cost is part of program operation and supported by revenues to the program. 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 or state or federal reimbursements. Costs must be offset by adult payments or revenue from other sources. The price must be enough to cover the full cost of the meal, plus the value of any USDA commodities used. USDA commodities may be used in adult meals only when the same foods are included in reimbursable children's meals.

It is the intent of the program to plan and prepare one lunch and/or breakfast per child per day. Second meals may not be claimed for reimbursement. Schools are cautioned not to plan and prepare second meals for children unless they are prepared to absorb the cost.

Exceptions to the Meal-Pattern Requirements. The meal-pattern requirements may be varied only for medical exceptions for individual dietary problems, special exceptions granted by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for experimental study, emergencies as a result of disaster recognized by the FNS, and exceptions for religious reasons.