Reimbursable Meals

School Breakfast Program

The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides reimbursement to states to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions. The Food and Nutrition Service administers the SBP at the federal level. State education agencies administer the SBP at the state level, and local school food authorities operate the program in schools.

The requirements for a reimbursable school breakfast are as follows:

• The breakfast must contain at least three food items.
• At least one (but no more than two) of the three food items must be a serving of fruit.
• Only one entrée item is allowed (e.g. pancakes or cereal, not both).
• Only one serving of each item is allowed (e.g. one apple, one banana, one milk, etc.).
• Students may return to the serving line for additional servings of fruit if they are still hungry.

Our cashiers check every student's tray to verify that their meal meets SBP requirements.

See the graphic to the right for examples of reimbursable breakfasts. Click on the graphic to open it in a new window.

National School Lunch Program

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.

The requirements for a reimbursable school lunch are based on components (food groups). The five components available are fruit, vegetables, grain, milk and meat or meat alternative (such as cheese or yogurt). 

• The lunch must contain at least three components.
• At least one of the three components must be a serving of fruit and/or vegetables. Students are allowed to choose up to one serving of each type of fruit and/or vegetable.
• Only one serving of each food item is allowed (e.g. one apple, one piece of bread, one milk, etc.). Students may only take one entrée.
• Students are not required to take an entrée as long as they take three other components.
• Students may return to the serving line for additional servings of fruit and/or vegetables if they are still hungry.

See the graphic to the right for examples of reimbursable lunches.