1. Are AAFES school meals healthy? Yes. AAFES school meals must meet nutritional guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  School meals contribute important nutrients such as calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C and iron.   The school meals when analyzed must be less than 30% fat with less than 10% saturated fat.   School meals encourage fruit, vegetable and milk consumption for the nutrients that are often deficient in our diets.
2. How much do AAFES school meals cost? The prices are:
Breakfast  
Students Eligible for Free Meals No charge
Students Eligible for Reduced Priced Meals $0.30
Elementary Students Paying Full Price $1.25
   
Lunch  
Students Eligible for Free Meals No charge
Students Eligible for Reduced Price Meals $0.40
Elementary Students Paying Full Price $2.05
Secondary Students Paying Full Price $2.20
Non-Students $3.30
Lunch Plus Additional Entrée $0.75

3. How can school meals be purchased? For your convenience, AAFES has a variety of ways students can purchase their school meals.

AAFES utilizes the Horizon “Fastlane” Point of Sale School pre-payment system in all-AAFES operated schools in the Pacific and in enduring locations in Europe.  Parents or students can place any desired amount of money into their account and can set daily spending limits.  Once an account is set up, deposits can either be made at the school (during cafeteria operational hours) or at the AAFES PX/BX Cashier Cage. 

For installations where the Fastlane system is not being utilized, school meal coupons are available at the PX/BX cashier cages.  Coupons are sold as Lunch Coupons or Lunch Plus Coupons. Lunch Coupons are used to purchase a complete lunch meal while the Lunch Plus coupon will purchase a second entree with the meal or purchase ala carte items. 

School meals and ala carte items can also be purchased with cash.

4. How do I find out if my family is eligible for free or reduced price meals? Eligibility applications for free and reduced price meals are handled through the military community on your Installation. Check with your Community Service Division for the proper procedure. If your family is approved for free or reduced price meals, your child’s account will be set up to reflect free or reduced price meals and charged accordingly in the Fastlane system or when purchasing coupons at the PX/BX cashier cage on your installation.

5. What is the ala carte service? In addition to our regular school meal service, some AAFES school cafeterias offer a variety of food items and beverages for sale to students and school staff. Ala carte items can be purchased to supplement bag lunches from home or the regular school meal, and by secondary students who do not want to purchase the pattern school lunch meal. Check with the school on your Installation to find out which ala carte food items and beverages they offer. Ala carte items can be purchased through the Fastlane pre-paid accounts,  with the Lunch Plus coupons, or cash.

6. What if my child loses their meal coupon or money? If your child loses their meal coupon or money, they should inform the school cafeteria staff. School cafeteria staff will make special meal arrangements to feed your child and notify you of the situation. In most cases, the student will receive a regular school meal with instructions on the proper repayment method. Students with several notifications may be given a replacement meal such as a sandwich and milk. Please see your local school cafeteria manager for further clarification.

7.  What are the school lunch program nutrition requirements?  The USDA school lunch consists of five meal components:  meat/meat alternate, two different fruits and/or vegetables, grain and milk.  Additionally, menus are analyzed to ensure they meet average weekly nutrient requirements.

ENHANCED FOOD-BASED MENU PLANNING APPROACH-MEAL PATTERN FOR LUNCHES
MINIMUM  REQUIREMENTS OPTION FOR

FOOD COMPONENTS AND
FOOD ITEMS

 

GRADES K-6

 

GRADES 7-12

 

GRADES K-3

 
Milk (as a beverage)

8 fluid ounces

8 fluid ounces

8 fluid ounces
Meat or Meat Alternate (quantity of the edible portion as served):

2 ounces

 

2 ounces

 

1½ ounces

 

Vegetable or Fruit:  2 or more servings of vegetables, fruits or both

 

Total:

¾ cup plus an extra ½ cup over a week2

Total: 

1 cup

 

Total:

¾ cup

 
Grains/Breads (servings per week):  A serving is a slice of bread or an equivalent serving of biscuits, rolls, etc., or ½ cup of cooked rice, macaroni, noodles, other pasta products or cereal grains

12 servings per week2 –minimum of 1 serving per day3

 15 servings per week2– minimum of 1 serving per day3

10 servings per week2  –minimum of 1 serving per day3

Additionally, our menus are analyzed to ensure they also meet nutritional requirements for calories, protein, calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Iron. 

Elementary

USDA Minimum

AAFES Average

Calories

664

735

Fat

<30%

29%

Saturated Fat

<10%

9%

Protein

10 g

31 g

Calcium

286 mg

520 mg

Vitamin A

224 RE

590 RE

Vitamin C

15 mg

23 mg

Iron

3.5 mg

4.7 mg

 

 

 

Secondary

USDA Minimum

AAFES Average

Calories

825

910

Fat

<30%

28%

Saturated Fat

<10%

8%

Protein

16 g

36 g

Calcium

400 mg

570 mg

Vitamin A

300 RE

730 RE

Vitamin C

18 mg

31 mg

Iron

4.5 mg

5.8 mg

8.  Why do the school lunches seem so high in starch?  The school lunch pattern requires schools cafeterias to serve a minimum amount of grains, fruits, vegetables and milk all which contain carbohydrates.  The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends increasing complex carbohydrates (45-65% of calories).  These foods also contain many essential nutrients.

9.  Why can’t the milk be substituted?  Milk is a required component in the National School Lunch Program.  Milk contributes important nutrients such as protein, calcium, riboflavin, Vitamin A, Vitamin D and protein.  No other food or beverage can be substituted for the milk.  For students who can not drink milk due to milk allergies or other medical conditions, a medical slip from a medical authority is required with a list of approved substitutes such as 100% fruit juice.

10.  Why do you offer flavored milk which contain additional sugar?  Studies show that students’ milk consumption increases when flavored milk is offered.  Although flavored milk contains added sugars, it is a compromise to encourage milk consumption to ensure students get the important nutrients in the milk like calcium, Vitamin A and Vitamin D.

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