Requirements-CEP/Meals at No Cost/Offer vs Serve

East Valley Schools are participating in CEP & students are able to receive meals at no cost. We must meet the requirements of Offer vs Serve!

This means that all East Valley students are able to receive one complete breakfast & one complete lunch daily free of charge. This is exciting news for our schools, students, families, and community. The East Valley Food Service Team is required to ensure that the meals the students are receiving at no charge meet certain standards under offer vs serve.

What is offer versus Serve? Offer vs Serve (OVS) allows students to decline some of the foods offered on the daily menu in a reimbursable lunch or breakfast. The goal of OVS is to allow students to decline some of the foods offered & to reduce waste.

What is a complete lunch under Offer vs Serve? Each student must select 3 of the 5 components, in the planned serving size from the daily lunch menu. (Sometimes it is easier to think of a component as a food group: meat -meat alternatives , grains , fruit , vegetables , & milk)

Students are offered all 5 components at lunchtime everyday.
Students may select all 5 components or they may choose to take 3 of the 5 components. It is up to the student!
Each student must select at least ½ cup of fruit &/or vegetables as one of the components. Students are not required to take milk !
If the choices a student makes does not meet the lunch OVS requirements, we let the student know, & give them suggestions on how to make their lunch complete. (When the lunch is complete the student is not charged. If the student chooses not to take the components that make a complete lunch the student will be charged for the meal.) Only a complete lunch is free for the student.

What is a complete breakfast under Offer vs Serve? Breakfast is a little different than lunch! Each student must select 3 of 4 items, in the planned serving size from the daily breakfast menu. (Sometimes it is easier to think of items as a things)

Students are offered all 4 items at breakfast everyday.
Students may select all 4 items/things from the daily breakfast menu or they may choose to only select 3 items/things from the daily breakfast menu. (This can be tricky, all of our breakfast entrees we offer the students are so large they count as 2 items/things) -If a student selects a cinnamon bun =2 items & 1 juice =½ cup fruit, they have met the 3 item requirement for a complete breakfast.
Each student must select at least ½ cup fruit as one of the items. Students are not required to take milk !
If the choices a student makes does not meet the breakfast OVS requirements, we let the student know, & give them suggestions on how to make their breakfast complete. (When the breakfast is complete the student is not charged. If the student chooses not to take the items that make a complete breakfast the student will be charged for the meal.) Only a complete breakfast is free for the student.

What if a student would like another meal, a second entrée, or milk? Students that would like a second meal, extra entrees, or extra milk are required to pay for those items. Sometimes, this is confusing because people believe that the food is free! A complete meal is free but each student may only select one entrée & one milk as part of their complete meal.

What if a student only wants the entrée? If a student would like an entrée only, like a slice of pizza

, they will need to pay for the entrée. Each student may receive a complete meal at no charge, an entrée only does not qualify as a complete meal, & must be paid for by the student.