As a federal program under USDA regulations, our menus must meet the USDA meal pattern for lunch, shown below (1):


Grades K-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12
Fruits

2 1/2 cups/week
1/2 cup/day

2 1/2 cups/week
1/2 cup/day

5 cups/week
1 cup/day

Vegetables

3 3/4 cups/week
3/4 cup/day'

3 3/4 cups/week
3/4 cup/day'

5 cups/week
1 cup/day

Dark Green

1/2 cup/week

1/2 cup/week

1/2 cup/week

Red/Orange

3/4 cup/week

3/4 cup/week

1 1/4 cup/week

Beans/Peas

1/2 cup/week

1/2 cup/week

1/2 cup/week

Starchy

1/2 cup/week

1/2 cup/week

1/2 cup/week

Other

1/2 cup/week

1/2 cup/week

3/4 cup/week

Additional

1 cup/week

1 cup/week

1 1/2 cup/week

Grains*

≥8 oz eq^ / week
≥1 oz eq^ / day

≥8 oz eq^ / week
≥1 oz eq^ / day

≥10 oz eq^ / week
≥2 oz eq^ / day

Meat/Meat Alternate

≥8 oz eq^ / week
≥1 oz eq^ / day

≥9 oz eq^ / week
≥1 oz eq^ / day

≥10 oz eq^ / week
≥2 oz eq^ / day

Milk

5 cups/week
1 cup/day

5 cups/week
1 cup/day

5 cups/week
1 cup/day

*80% of grains offered must be whole grain

^ An "oz eq" is defined by the USDA Food Buying Guide

' All Hamilton County students are offered 1 cup vegetable each day for a total of 5 cups per week


Additionally, the menus must meet specific nutrient standards (1). The following are calculated with a weekly, weighted average, where items that students choose more often weighing more into the analysis than those chosen less frequently.


Grades K-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12

Min-Max Calories (kcal)

550-650 600-700 750-850

Saturated Fat (% of total calories)

< 10 < 10 <10
Sodium (mg) <1110 <1225 <1280
Trans Fat All labels must indicate 0g All labels must indicate 0g All labels must indicate 0g

References

(1) Food and Nutrition Services. United States Department of Agriculture. "Final Rule Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs". Jan 2012.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    [email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.