National School Meal Programs

The National School Breakfast Program (NSBP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
 
New Haven Public Schools follow this program, a federally assisted meal program operating in public schools, nonprofit private schools, and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low‐cost, or free lunches to children each school day.
 
In this program, the breakfast and lunch meals must meet the recommended Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommends that no more than thirty percent of the total calories come from fat, and less than ten percent come from saturated fat.
 
DOCUMENTS pertaining to School Meals:
Offer vs. Serve
Offer vs. Serve Meal Tray
Policy Statement
 

Listed below is more information on the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program guidelines and the options that New Haven Public Schools serve to your children each day!
 

Every day for breakfast students are offered the following 4 components:
 Students are encouraged to take 1 option from each of the food groups for the most nutritious meal!

1. 2-4+ ounces of whole grain rich foods, including: cereals, bagels, French toast sticks, and pancakes. 100% of the grain items are verified to be whole-grain rich, offering at least 8g of whole grains per serving. Whole grain foods provide students with lasting energy with a great source of Fiber and B- Vitamins.
2. 1 cup of fruit, including: fresh pieces of fruit (bananas, apples, oranges, pears), fruit cups (mandarin oranges, pineapple, fruit salad), 4-ounces of 100% fruit juice, raisins, and reduced-sugar applesauce. Fruit offers students a sweet way to eat Fiber, Vitamin C, and energy to start their day!
3. 1 cup of fat free or 1% low fat fluid milk. Milk is a great source of Protein, Calcium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D; all nutrients that are essential for each child to continue to grow and play strong!
4. 1-2 ounces of optional protein rich foods, including: sunflower seeds, yogurt, and cheese sticks. Students love these Protein rich options to complete their meal and help keep them full until lunch.
   

*Every breakfast meal meets nationally specified target amounts for sodium, calorie, and saturated/trans-fats.
 

Every day for lunch students are offered the following 5 components:
 Students are encouraged to take 1 option from each of the food groups for the most nutritious meal!

1. 2-4+ oz of whole grain rich foods, including; whole grain buns, rolls, pasta, pizza crust, etc. 100% of the grain items are verified to be whole-grain rich, offering at least 8g of whole grains per serving.
2. Choice of two fruits, students are to take at least 1 cup equivalent. Choices include: fresh pieces of fruit (bananas, apples, oranges, pears), fruit cups (mandarin oranges, pineapple, fruit salad), and serve-your-own fruit in our salad bars.
3. Choice of many vegetables, students are to take at least 1 cup equivalent. We design our menus to offer a variety of vegetables and each week offer options from each of the vegetable subgroups (dark green veggies, red/orange veggies, beans/peas, and starchy). Each of these vegetable subgroups offer different nutrients and we encourage kids to eat the rainbow to ensure they are getting the best nutrition! We offer 1-2 cooked veggies each day and then a salad bar that frequently changes options for students to serve themselves.
4. 1 cup of skim or 1% low fat fluid milk.
5. 2-4+ ounces of protein rich foods. The protein foods we offer are from meat and vegetarian sources. Our meat protein rich foods are from lean sources and are prepared in healthy ways! Each have limited saturated fat, and no trans-fat. Check out our “Culinary Techniques” page for more information on how we prepare our foods. We offer a variety of vegetarian alternates each day; including Sunbutter and Jelly Sandwiches, Falafel Wraps, and Bagel/Yogurt plates that each offer at least 2 ounce protein equivalents.

 
*Every lunch meal meets nationally specified target amounts for sodium, calorie, and saturated/trans-fats.