The school meal menus are developed by an experienced, credentialed staff member (SNS). They are also meant to be age-appropriate and prepared to maximize student enjoyment. In addition, student voice through the Superintendent Student Advisory Council is considered in meal planning efforts.

We are pleased to offer breakfast at all District 65 schools. Most schools offer a “grab-n-go" option to be taken to classrooms and some schools allow for breakfast to be eaten in the cafeteria.

For the 2022-2023 school year, the USDA has discontinued the waivers that allowed all students to eat for free. Instead, meals will be priced on a tiered scale based on free and reduced-price meal eligibility.

Meal prices are as follows:

Meal Prices

Meal	FULL-PRICE	REDUCED Price	FREE
Breakfast (available in all buildings)	$2.25	$.30	Free $0.00
Elementary Lunch (K-5)	$3.00	$.40	Free $0.00
Middle School Lunch (6-8)	$3.25	$.40	Free $0.00
Milk (purchased a la carte at all schools)	$.60 (price is for all individuals when not part of a complete meal)

If you feel that your family would qualify for the Free/Reduced meal program, a meal application should be filled out. This may also assist you with student fees, among other benefits.

Elementary Students: In their morning homeroom, students must raise their hand when the teacher takes the “lunch count”. Meals are ordered according to this hand count. Students should clarify if they want the main entree or the vegetarian version.

Middle School (and King Arts Magnet School) Students: Students wanting to obtain a school lunch will be asked to visit the cafeteria. A la carte items may be purchased starting in October, as long as the student’s lunch account does not have a current negative balance. Lunch account balances and payments can be made using Myschoolbucks.com.

For those students who bring their lunch from home, milk can also still be purchased separately for $0.60. Students ordering lunch at school will also be provided with the option to obtain milk as part of their school lunch.

All children, including those who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches, can order a sack lunch for field trips.

District 65 participates in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast program.  Both programs are federally funded, directed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and implemented by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act was signed by the President in 2010, with implementation beginning in 2012. This Act represents the first major revision of school meal standards in more than 15 years and ensures that  student lunches and breakfasts have more whole-grains, vegetables, fruits, less fat and sodium, and set sensible calorie limits based on the age of children being served.

View the nutrition standards for school meal programs

“Offer versus serve” is the approved method of meal service in school meal programs. Students are only required to take 3 of the 4 components at breakfast, and 3 of the 5 components at lunch, which must include one-half cup of fruit or vegetable. Meal components include the following: meat/meat alternate, whole-grains, fruits, vegetables, and milk. If there is a component of the meal that a student does not wish to eat, they can refuse it. This method helps to cut down on waste in the program(s).

Students that do not choose to take all lunch components will not receive the full complement of nutrients and calories, as described in the Nutrition Standards Chart.

If a child does not have enough money in their lunch account to purchase a meal, they will still receive a meal. In order to avoid large negative balances, we ask that parents monitor their child’s account using MySchoolBucks. Parents will be notified of negative balances on a regular basis. Negative balances will remain on lunch accounts from year to year.

We encourage all families who feel they may qualify for assistance to fill out the Free/Reduced Meal Application. This application is available all year round, but is NOT retroactive. We suggest filling this application out as soon as possible in order to avoid negative account balances. If you have questions, please contact the Nutrition Services department nutritionservices@district65.net.

District 65 is focused on the health of our school environment. The USDA established nutrition standards for all snacks sold in school by any entity, including parent/student organizations, teachers, boosters, fundraisers or the Nutrition Services Department. These standards for snack sales are in effect from any time before school through one half (1/2) hour after school, in accordance with the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and our district Wellness Policy. Non-compliant foods may be sold from one half (1/2) hour after school through the end of the day. These standards carefully balance science-based nutrition guidelines with practical and flexible solutions to promote healthier eating on campus.

Smart Snacks in Schools Product Calculator

Use the Smart Snacks in Schools Product Calculator, developed by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, to take the guesswork out of nutrition standards. Simply enter the product information, answer a few questions, and determine whether your snack, side or entree item meets the new USDA Smart Snacks in School standards. Review the USDA's Product Calculator to calculate this information.

Kids often need snacks to help them get enough calories (ENERGY) throughout the day. Choosing healthy snacks that add nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, to their diets is essential. Smart snacking is a great way to meet daily nutrient requirements that may be missed during meal times.

Students in our district are offered healthier school meals with more fruits, vegetables and whole grains through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast program. The Smart Snacks in Schools standards published by the USDA will build on those healthy advancements, by ensuring that all other snack foods and beverages available for sale to students in school are also nutritious.

Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards: Foods

Any food sold in school must:

• Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or
• Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product or a protein food; or
• Be a combination food that contains at least one fourth (¼) cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or
• Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D or dietary fiber)

Foods must meet several nutrient requirements:

• Snack items: ≤ 200 calories
• Entrée items: ≤ 350 calories

Sodium limits

• Snack items: ≤ 230 mg
• Entrée items: ≤ 480 mg

Fat limits

• Total fat: ≤ 35% of calories
• Saturated fat: ≤ 10% of calories
• Trans fat: zero grams

Sugar limit

• ≤ 35% of weight from total sugars in foods

Accompaniments

Accompaniments such as cream cheese, salad dressing and butter must be included in the nutrient analysis, as part of the food item sold. This helps control the amount of calories, fat, sugar and sodium added to foods.

Smart Snacks Nutrient Standards: Beverages

All schools may sell:

• Plain water (with or without carbonation)
• Unflavored low fat milk
• Unflavored or flavored fat free milk and milk alternatives permitted by NSLP/SBP
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice, and 100% fruit or vegetable juice diluted with water (with or without carbonation) and no added sweeteners

Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions, while middle and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions of milk and juice. There is no portion size limit for plain water.