and do not serve as a meat/meat alternate in the meal. Improving the nutrient content of the foods children eat by disguising nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits in the food can be beneficial. However, it is not a menu planning principle that teaches and encourages children to recognize and eat a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables. Must all menu items on the serving line be identified as part of the reimbursable meal? Yes. The foods or food components (depending on the situation) that are part of a meal must be labeled, listed, or otherwise identified near/at the beginning of the serving line and prior to the Point-of Service so the students can easily choose a reimbursable meal. Must a school place all food components that are part of the reimbursable meal before the Point of Service (POS)? If a school is not able to position all food components (e.g., salad bar) prior to the POS, State agencies may authorize alternatives to the POS lunch counts. When food components/food items are located in an approved location beyond the POS, they must be labeled, listed on the menu, or otherwise identified so the students can easily identify all the components for a reimbursable meal and select the correct quantities. There must be a system in place to ensure that each reimbursable meal selected by the student under OVS includes a fruit or a vegetable (at least 1/2 cup). What must schools do to comply with the requirement to identify the reimbursable meal(s)? The requirement for SFAs to identify, near or at the beginning of the serving line, the food items that constitute a reimbursable meal is intended to assist students in selecting the meal components that comprise the meal and in the appropriate quantities. The final rule, however, does not set specific requirements. State agencies and SFAs may establish requirements to fit their menu, facilities, layout and other considerations. Providing detailed information about the components, such as identifying the vegetable subgroups, is an excellent teaching tool, but is not required.
and do not serve as a meat/meat alternate in the meal. Improving the nutrient content of the foods children eat by disguising nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits in the food can be beneficial. However, it is not a menu planning principle that teaches and encourages children to recognize and eat a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables. Must all menu items on the serving line be identified as part of the reimbursable meal? Yes. The foods or food components (depending on the situation) that are part of a meal must be labeled, listed, or otherwise identified near/at the beginning of the serving line and prior to the Point-of Service so the students can easily choose a reimbursable meal. Must a school place all food components that are part of the reimbursable meal before the Point of Service (POS)? If a school is not able to position all food components (e.g., salad bar) prior to the POS, State agencies may authorize alternatives to the POS lunch counts. When food components/food items are located in an approved location beyond the POS, they must be labeled, listed on the menu, or otherwise identified so the students can easily identify all the components for a reimbursable meal and select the correct quantities. There must be a system in place to ensure that each reimbursable meal selected by the student under OVS includes a fruit or a vegetable (at least 1/2 cup). What must schools do to comply with the requirement to identify the reimbursable meal(s)? The requirement for SFAs to identify, near or at the beginning of the serving line, the food items that constitute a reimbursable meal is intended to assist students in selecting the meal components that comprise the meal and in the appropriate quantities. The final rule, however, does not set specific requirements. State agencies and SFAs may establish requirements to fit their menu, facilities, layout and other considerations. Providing detailed information about the components, such as identifying the vegetable subgroups, is an excellent teaching tool, but is not required.
final%20rule%20-%20meal%20pattern%20faqs%20usda.docx