Title: School Meals FAQs | USDA-FNS
Headings: School Meals FAQs
School Meals FAQs
Requirements for Meal Content and Quality
Accommodations for Children with Special Dietary Needs
Free and Reduced Price Meals
Denial of Meals
Also See

Content: The program regulations allow schools to elect to extend this permission to elementary and junior high school children as well. This means that high school children may decline as many as two of the five items in a food-based lunch, and younger children may decline one or two items depending on local policy. For breakfast, a child may decline one item regardless of which menu planning option is used. What can be done to improve the meals served in schools? We recognize that school meals must look and taste good if children are going to eat them. To address this need, we have developed and distributed a wide range of materials designed to provide local meal planners with recipes and other tools to help them prepare appealing school meals. To learn more about these materials, visit the Healthy Meals Resource System. To learn about education materials designed for children and their families, search for Team Nutrition resources. We are also actively working with our state partners to provide training and technical assistance to local schools. Ultimately, however, this issue is most effectively addressed at the local level through the efforts of concerned parents.