The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions.
Lunch Fact Sheet
Lunch Fact Sheet
- Lunch Meal Pattern
USDA Regulations, Policy Memos, and Guidance Materials for Nutrition Standards
Final Rule – Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines
Final Rule Implementation Timeline in School Meals
Product-Based Added Sugars Limit – Effective July 1, 2025
Policy Memo Updates
- SP 19-2024, CACFP 07-2024, SFSP 12-2024 Initial Implementation Memorandum: Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- SP 01-2025 Fluid Milk Requirements for School Meals
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Meal Pattern - Lunch Program Operations
- Menu Planning Tools
- Menu Certification
- Crediting
- Offer versus Serve
- Onsite Review
- Water Availability - Schools must make potable water available to children at no charge where meals are served during the meal service.
- Field Trip Meals Fact Sheet
- Record Keeping
Edit Checks
Food Production Records
- Food Production Record Instructions for Breakfast and Lunch
- Interactive Food Production Record for Breakfast and Lunch
- Interactive Food Production Record for Salad Bar
- Grades K – 5 Lunch Production Record Example
- Grades 9 – 12 Lunch Production Record Example
- Salad Bar Food Production Record Example
Record Retention
- Signage for Identifying a Reimbursable Meal
Signage must be posted in a visible area near the meal service line, and prior to the point of service, that shows students how to select a reimbursable meal.