National School Lunch Program
Students can refuel during the school day with a FREE lunch that includes food options from five food groups:
- Fruit
- Vegetable
- Whole Grain
- Protein
- Milk
At lunch, students may select food from three, four, or all five of the food groups to complete their meal. At least one of these choices must be from the fruit or vegetable group. Students may choose milk but it is not required.
Lunch Food Groups & Examples of Items
|
Proteins |
Whole Grains |
Vegetables |
Fruit |
Milk |
|
Beef Chicken Pork Yogurt Cheese Peanut Butter |
Bread Varieties (sliced bread, buns, muffins) Pasta Rice Breading |
Fresh Frozen Canned Subgroup Requirements Dark Green Red/Orange Legumes Starch Other |
Fresh Cupped (in natural juices) Dried Juice (100% fruit) |
Low-fat & Fat-free Unflavored Fat-free Chocolate Lactose Free Unflavored |