Meal Pattern and Production Records
Meal pattern requirements outline the required food components and nutrient standards for School Nutrition Programs.
Production records are required to document adherence to meal pattern requirements.
Offer versus Serve is an element of meal pattern requirements that require certain food items and/or components to be offered and served.
- The goal of Offer vs Serve is to reduce food waste and allow students to choose the foods they want to eat.
- A food component is one of the five food categories: fruits, vegetables, meats/meat alternates, grains, and fluid milk
- A food item is a specific food offered within the five food components. For example, a cup of sliced apples and a cup of grapes are two different food items.
View the Offer versus Serve Manual for additional information.
Water
Plain, potable water and cups must be available to students at no charge during the breakfast and lunch meal services in the food service area. Water can be provided via water fountains, water pitchers, bottled water, etc.
Offer versus Serve Breakfast Tip Sheet
- At breakfast, Offer versus Serve is optional but strongly encouraged for elementary, middle, and high schools.
- Schools participating in Offer versus Serve must…
- Offer students at least four food items from all three required meal components (fruits and/or vegetables, grains and/or meats/meat alternates, and fluid milk).
- Students must select at least three food items, including ½ cup of fruits and/or vegetables.
Click on “Training” or view the Breakfast Meal Pattern, Meal Service, and Documentation & Recordkeeping training videos for more information.
Offer versus Serve Lunch Tip Sheet
- At lunch, Offer versus Serve is required for high schools, and optional but strongly encouraged for elementary and middle schools.
- Schools participating in Offer versus Serve must…
- Offer students all five required meal components (fruits, vegetables, grains, meats/meat alternates, and fluid milk).
- Students must select at least three meal components, including ½ cup of fruits and/or vegetables.
Lunch Production Record (PDF | Word)
Multi-Day Food Bar Production Record (PDF | Word)
RCCI Multi-Day Food Bar Production Record (PDF | Word)
Click on “Training” or view the Lunch Meal Pattern, Meal Service, and Documentation & Recordkeeping training videos for more information.
K-12 Afterschool Snack Meal Pattern
There is no Offer versus Serve for the Afterschool Snack Program.
Click on “Training” to go to the Afterschool Snack Page for training and more information.
Preschool Meal Pattern Breakfast, Lunch and Snack.pdf
There is no Offer versus Serve for preschool children.
Click on “Training” or view the Preschool Meals training video for more information.
Resources
The Food Buying Guide is designed to help you…
- buy the right amount of food and purchase it in the most cost-effective manner,
- determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements,
- and includes how-to videos on using the Food Buying Guide.