Well-nourished students are ready to learn. Food and Nutrition Services team members are partners in education, contributing to a successful academic experience for students through an innovative, nutritious and cost-efficient program that encourages a lifetime of good nutrition. The program adheres to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.
Families may apply for free or reduced-price school meals through the USDA National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs. A new application must be submitted each school year, and it must be completed in full to be considered. The most convenient way to submit an application is to apply online. The online application is available in English and Spanish. A paper application is available upon request from the school office or from Food and Nutrition Services.
At schools covered by the community eligibility provision, all students receive free school meals. Families at those schools do not need to submit an application. Chesterfield County schools covered by the community eligibility provision in 2023-24 are listed in the dropdown menu.
If your earnings are at or below federal income eligibility guidelines, you are encouraged to complete an application.
If you receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits or participate in other federal assistance programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, then all of your children who attend school automatically qualify for free school meals.
If you are eligible for unemployment compensation or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, then you may also be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
Tired of searching every morning for cash to pay for meals or a la carte items in school cafeterias? MySchoolBucks.com can make mornings easier. It is a simple and convenient alternative to ensure your children have money in their accounts for school meals. You can access MySchoolBucks.com via web or download the app.
Through MySchoolBucks.com, you can:
Returned checks: Food and Nutrition Services contracts with Envision Payment Solutions for services related to returned checks. A $50 fee is charged for each returned check in addition to the value of the check. Call 855-832-5226 if you have questions.
A free app makes it easy to find out what is being served in Chesterfield County Public Schools. MealViewer can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Also, the school system’s website provides a link: schools.mealviewer.com/district/ccps. MealViewer users create a free account, choose the school they are interested in, then view detailed nutritional information (including possible allergens) about the entrees and side dishes available each day. Because food and ingredients change from year to year, parents need to check ingredients annually if their child has food allergies. Menus are subject to change.
Chesterfield County Public Schools provides nutritious breakfasts and lunches, offering milk, fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains and meeting strict limits on saturated fat and portion size. Nutrition is prioritized, and the school system is meeting the challenges set forth in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. School lunches must meet federal standards that require
Here are some of the steps taken to make school breakfasts and lunches healthy and nutritious:
Parents can use this link to the food allergy/food modification medical statement or get one from their school’s nurse or cafeteria manager. This form must be completed and signed by a licensed health-care provider and returned to the school nurse. The school nurse will provide the statement to the cafeteria manager who will send it to the dietitian in Food and Nutrition Services to determine any meal accommodations.
Food and Nutrition Services offers a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program at multiple elementary schools, providing a fresh fruit and vegetable snack to students three to five days a week. The goal is to:
The snacks are eaten in the classroom and paired with fun and educational information. Children are encouraged to try the fruit or vegetable snack of the day, but they may choose to not participate if they do not like or cannot eat the fruit or vegetable offered. Please encourage your child to participate in the snack, as this is a great way to show students healthy food choices that are both familiar and new.
Information provided in student and parent handouts reflects some of the fruits and vegetables that are offered. Student handouts give nutrition information and some interesting facts about the fruits and vegetables. Parent handouts include a recipe and information about how to select and store the fruits and vegetables when purchasing from a store.
Yes. School meals are healthy and meet requirements set by the USDA and the Government Accountability Office. For optimum nutrition, it is good practice to encourage your child to eat all the meal components, including fruits and vegetables, and to limit a la carte items.
No. Studies show that lunches from home are less nutritious, contain more snack foods and rarely include milk. School lunches offer high nutritional value at a low cost.
Yes. Contact the food service manager at your child’s school or write on your check “meals only.”
Yes. All snacks sold on school campuses must meet the USDA Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards:
When a student cannot consume milk because of a medical condition, a statement from a recognized medical authority must be submitted. Cafeterias routinely offer lactose-free milk as an approved alternative. For other allergies, contact Food and Nutrition Services at 804-743-3717.
Yes. An application must be completed each year and can only be processed if it includes all the required information. One application listing all school-age children should be submitted for each household. Note: Students who attend schools covered by the community eligibility provision do not need to submit an application to receive free meals.
If your income is too high or the information requested on the application was incomplete, your application will be denied.
Chesterfield County Public Schools
