What's Behind a Meal:
Nutrition Education

The Hempfield School District’s Child Nutrition Department strives to remain current on all food & nutrition-related topics so we can respond effectively to concerns.  We make every effort to pass along nutritional information to faculty, students, and parents by:

• Providing nutrition information on monthly menus
  
• Placement of important nutrition information on serving lines
  
• Post nutrition information on the Child Nutrition web page
  

What is the “traditional” meal pattern & what does “offer vs. serve” mean?

Our school lunches must provide 1/3 of the daily requirements.  All of our schools participate under the “traditional” meal pattern.  The traditional meal pattern requires that the food service programs have to serve certain foods in specified amounts, depending on the age of the students.  Foe example, a meal which meets the government requirements includes:

• One serving of meat/meat alternate = 2oz. hamburger patty
  
• One serving of grains/bread = one hamburger bun
  
• Two servings of fruit and/or vegetables, totaling ¾ cup = ½ cup carrot sticks & ¼ cup fruit
  
• One 8 oz. serving of 1% milk = one serving of milk
  

Under the offer vs. serve option, students are able to decline items in the meal.  The goal of offer vs. serve is to reduce plate waste.  All 5 components have to be offered, however, a student can decline up to 2 items to count as a “reimbursable” meal.