OFFER VERSUS SERVE

WATAUGA CO. CHILD NUTRITION

What is Offer vs. Serve? (OVS) Allows students to decline some of the

food offered in a school lunch or school breakfast

Goals Reduce food waste in the school meals

program Permit students choices to select the foods

they prefer

Requirements

OVS must be implemented at senior high school according to the National School Lunch Program

School meals must be priced as a unit One price established for a complete

reimbursable meal in the paid meal category and in the reduced lunch category

Food Bar/ Salad Bar OVS Instructions

Menu planner must Identify the reimbursable food/menu items

provided on the food bar and the minimum serving size of each

Indicate which foods and combinations of foods the students may choose to select a reimbursable meal

Requirements of Food-based Menu Planning

Breakfast 4 food items must be offered in the

specified minimum amounts 1 serving of juice/fruit/vegetable 1 serving of milk 2 serving of grain/breads or 2 serving of

meat/meat alternate or 1 serving meat/meat alternate and 1 serving grain/breads or an equivalent combination of meat/meat alternate//grains/breads

Requirements of Food-based Menu Planning Cont..

Lunch 5 food items must be offered in the

specified minimum amounts These include

Meat/meat alternate Grains/breads 2 servings of vegetables/fruit Milk

Requirements for Lunch

Students must be offered at least the minimum serving sizes of 5 food items from the 4 food components at all school levels

Double serving of the same food items (2 serving of milk or 2 servings of corn) may only be credited as 1 food item

Senior High Level Students are permitted to decline up to 2 of the 5

food items offered Below Senior High Level

School authority has the option to permit students to decline 1 or 2 of the 5 food items offered

Requirements for Breakfast

At all grade level OVS is optional Students must be offers at least the minimum serving

sizes of 4 food items from 3 or 4 components If implemented:

Students are allowed to refuse 1 food item from any component

Double servings of the same grains/breads or meat/meat alternate food items can be credited towards a reimbursable breakfast

Double servings of vegetables/ fruit can not be credited towards a reimbursable breakfast

Only 2 food items from the meat/meat alternate/grains/breads components may be counted towards a reimbursable breakfast

Requirements for Meat/Meat Alternate

Lunch If the meat/meat alternate is

provided in 2 items on a menu (such as soup and sandwich), a student must take full serving of both to meet the required amount for the full component

Breakfast A full serving of meat/meat

alternate is not required when combined with the grains/breads component

Requirements for Vegetables/Fruits

Students must take a full serving size to be counted as 1 vegetable/fruit

Mixtures that are on the menu (such as fruit cocktail or mixed vegetable) only count as 1 serving

Students much take 2 or more food items that total the full amount required to be credited as a full serving

Requirements for Grains/Breads

Lunch Students must take a minimum of 1 full serving

and the item may only be credited if the total selected adds up to one full serving

May be taken in combination with another food item (ex: entrée) or separately (ex: roll)

Schools may offer more than one grain/bread item; however if a student selects both, only 1 of the items can be credited

Requirements for Grains/Breads Cont..

Breakfast Full serving of grain/bread is not

required when combined with a meat/meat alternate component Example

Breakfast burrito Soft tortilla = ¾ serving

grains/breads Shredded cheese and

sausage = ¾ ounce of meat/meat alternate

Totals = 2 serving of these components = 2 of the 4 food items required

Requirements for Milk

Lunch Must be offered as a

beverage

Breakfast Must be offered as

beverage, on cereal, or both

Lunch Example #1

2 servings of fruit/vegetables are required to be served each meal, totaling ¾ cup to be offered

A meal planner chooses to offer 3 serving totaling ¾ cup ¼ cup of peaches ¼ cup of peas ¼ cup of green beans

Lunch Example #1

If a student selects the peaches and peas along with a carton of milk is this a reimbursable meal under OVS since the student has taken two different sources of fruit/vegetables?

Answer

No, it is not a reimbursable meal

¼ peaches + ¼ peas = ½ vegetables/fruits

For the vegetables/fruits to count as a full serving all three items must be selects adding up to ¾ cup

Breakfast Example #1

Tray 1 2 serving of scrambled egg (1 large egg) Apple juice

Is this meal Reimbursable?

Answer

Yes, it is reimbursable

There are 3 food items because double

serving of meat/meat alternate component are counted under the school breakfast program

Breakfast Example #2

Tray 2 1 serving of scrambled egg (1/2 large egg) Juice

Is this meal Reimbursable?

Answer

No, it is not reimbursable

Only 2 food items were selected so the student must select another serving of scrambled egg, a grain/bread item or milk

Breakfast Example #3

School offers An egg and cheese biscuit with 1 large egg,

scrambled, 1 ounce of cheese This provides 2 servings of grains/breads

If a student selects only this item, do they have a reimbursable breakfast?

Answer

No, it is not reimbursable Egg/cheese biscuit =

2 servings of meat/meat alternate 2 servings of grains/breads

Only 2 food items are selected so the student must select a milk or vegetables/fruits item to have a reimbursable meal including 3 items