Salad vs Entrée Information
Students may substitute an entrée salad for the daily entrée at no extra charge. The salad will consist of a salad mix (iceberg & romaine lettuce, purple cabbage and shredded carrots, tomato wedge, cucumber slices, shredded cheese and ham or turkey or chicken. A vegetarian version will be prepared by adding more cheese and omitting the meat. The salad will be served with cracker.

Lunch Plus Info
Only one USDA reimbursable lunch will be served at the advertised prices per student. A second entrée can be purchased for $1.00. Second lunches will be purchased at the a la carte prices.

Dropped Tray
A student will be given another tray at no charge.
 

A LA CARTE
In addition to our regular school meal service, some AAFES school cafeterias offer a variety of individual food items and beverages for sale to students and staff.

Elementary Schools
A la carte meals will not be available to elementary schools during lunch hours. Food items will be sold as balanced meals. Elementary schools may approve selling a few items in addition to the pattern meal or to supplement meals brought from home such as milk, 100% juice, water, raisins, nutri-grain bars, baked chips, pretzels, muffins, fruit, yogurt or cookies.

A minimum of one fruit or one vegetable will be offered daily when selling additional food items a la carte. For example, if cookies are sold, fruit should also be sold as an alternative. No foods on site will be deep-fried. This does not include stir-fried or sautéed foods.

Secondary Schools
A la carte meals will be available to secondary schools during lunch hours. Portion sizes will not exceed the serving size of food served in the National School Lunch Program and/or items will be packaged in single serving sizes not to exceed established portion guidelines.

A minimum of one fruit or one vegetable will be offered daily when selling additional food items a la carte. For example, if cookies are sold, fruit should also be sold as an alternative.

Students will not be given a discounts or perceived cost savings by buying in bulk or to “supersize” food items except for healthy alternatives like fruits, whole grains, low fat dairy and non-fried vegetables.

Offer vs Serve information
Offer versus Serve (OVS) is a system designed to decrease food waste and give students greater flexibility in choosing what eat for school breakfast or lunch.

General OVS Requirements for Lunch:

• Students must take at least 3 of the 5 food items. This is the minimum under Federal program regulations.
   
• Students may take smaller portions of the declined food items.
   
• The meal must be priced as a unit. That is, a student who takes 3, 4, or 5 food items, or smaller portions of some items, pays the same price.

Concepts:

• Students can make food selections, and will more likely eat what they select.
• Students may refuse any food item.
• Students may take any combination.
• Combination foods count as more than 1 food item.
• Parents and other adults teach kids -- by example -- to make healthful choices.
• We encourage students to select all foods offered.
• Policy for extra portions at extra cost is unaffected by OVS.

What's for lunch?
For a meal that is reimbursable under USDA regulations, students must be offered a lunch that contains:

• 5 food items...
   
• from the 4 food components...
   
• in at least the minimum serving sizes for the appropriate age/grade group

The 5 food items at lunch include:

1. Meat/Meat Alternate
2. Grains/Breads
3. & 4. Vegetables/Fruits - two or more servings of different kinds of
vegetables and/or fruits
5. Milk

The 4 food components at lunch are:

1. Meat/Meat Alternate
2. Vegetables/Fruits
3. Grains/Breads
4. Milk

What's for breakfast?

• 4 food items;
   
• from 3 or 4 components;
   
• in at least the minimum serving size for the appropriate age/grade group.

The 4 food components for breakfast are:

1. Meat/Meat Alternative
2. Grains/Breads
3. Vegetable/Fruit
4. Milk

Adult Meal Participation
Lunch will be offered to adults at full cost. Adult meals must be priced to cover the full cost of those meals. We can offer students meals at a reduced price (from adult priced meals) because we receive reimbursement from the US government for each student meal we serve. The additional funds needed to cover students meals are covered by DoDEA.

Since adult meals are not eligible for USDA reimbursement and DoDEA is not authorized to subsidize adult meals, we must charge adults the full cost of the meal. The meal price is based on a secondary student serving.

Charging Policy
Students are notified as they near a zero balance and more funds should be added to their account. We do encourage you to prepay for this greatly increases the speed of meal service and allows the students more time to enjoy their meals. Please help us by paying promptly to avoid negative account balances. A la carte items may not be charged. You may contact the school cafeteria manager if you have any questions or concerns.

Children with Disabilities Requiring Special Meals
A person with a disability is one with a physical impairment or mental impairment that limits one or more major activities. Whenever a child is unable to eat or drink one or more of the required meal components, we must have a medical statement signed by a physician

A medical statement must identify the following:

• The disability and an explanation of why the disability restricts the child’s diet
• The major life activity affected by the disability
• The food or choice foods that must be omitted or substituted and must be signed by the physician

Children with Special Dietary Needs
For participants with food allergies and food intolerances, we will make substitutions when supported by a statement signed by a recognized medical authority.

For non-disabled participants the supporting statement shall include:

• An identification of the medical or other special dietary needs, which restricts the child’s diet.
• The food or foods to be omitted from the participant’s diet and the food or choice of foods that may be substituted.

Send completed and signed Medical Statements to your local School Nurse. Menus that meet the child’s dietary prescription and/or texture modification will be developed. Food Services staff will be trained on how to prepare these special meals.

The prices are: