1. 1 Offer Versus Serve National School Lunch Program

2. 2 Lunch Meal Pattern Chart Here is a graphic display of the lunch meal pattern. You may need to reference it as we talk about Offer vs Serve.

3. 3 What is Offer Versus Serve (OVS)? Offer Versus Serve (OVS) is a concept that applies to Child Nutrition menu planning and the determination of reimbursable school meals. OVS allows students to decline some of the food offered in a school lunch or breakfast.

4. 4 Who, When & Where OVS is: Required at lunch at the senior high level Optional at grade levels below the senior high level Optional at breakfast in all grades The school food authority (SFA) decides whether to implement OVS when optional & in what grades. Students decide what foods to decline

5. 5 Meal Identification All menu items on serving line must be: Identifiable Labeled Listed at the beginning of serving line Listed prior to Point of Service (POS)

6. 6 Training and Signage All schools must identify food items that make up a reimbursable meal at or near beginning of line. Schools using OVS must identify what food items or components must be selected in order to count as a reimbursable meal. Point of Service and serving line staff must be trained on what makes a reimbursable meal: Example: Recognizing appropriate serving sizes of items selected

7. 7 Pre-plating/Pre-packaging/Bundling Pre-plating/pre-packaging/bundling is allowed. Schools are encouraged to offer choices to the greatest extent possible. Pre-plating /pre-packaging works best if there is variety within the bundled choices.

8. 8 OVS Reimbursable Lunches Page 1 To receive reimbursement for an OVS lunch, schools must meet the following requirements: Offer at least the minimum serving sizes for all 5 food components: Meat/Meat Alternative Fruit Vegetable Grains Milk Price lunch as a unit: This means that the price is the same regardless of whether the students takes 3, 4, or 5 components.

9. 9 OVS Reimbursable Lunches Page 2 For OVS lunch to be reimbursable: Students must: Select at least 3 components. Select at least ½ cup of either a fruit, vegetable, or combination of the two. Students may: Decline two of the five required food components, including entrée or milk. Take smaller portions of declined food items (does not affect price).

10. 10 OVS Reimbursable Lunches Page 3 If a student does not select at least three food components: The lunch is not reimbursable. The student must pay according to a la carte pricing. If a student does not have ½ cup of fruit, vegetable, or a combination of both, the lunch is not reimbursable.

11. 11 OVS Reimbursable Lunches If a student has not selected 3 components, every effort should be made at the point of service to encourage the student to take an additional component so the meal is reimbursable. All staff responsible for counting and claiming meals must be trained to recognize meal components, including those in combination foods. Make sure you and your staff receive annual training in recognizing reimbursable meals.

12. 12 Challenge Activity Students took the following meals – are they reimbursable under OVS?

13. 13 Examples of Reimbursable/Non-Reimbursable Meals #1

14. 14 Examples of Reimbursable/Non-Reimbursable Meals #2

15. 15 Resources This list of links provides you access to many resources for school meal programs. Link to USDA Website http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Legislation/nutritionstandards.htmLink to USDA Website Link to Child Nutrition Programs – School Meals Home Page http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/child-nutrition-programsLink to Child Nutrition Programs – School Meals Home Page Link to FNS New Meal Pattern Website http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Legislation/nutritionstandards.htmLink to FNS New Meal Pattern Website Link to Best Practices Sharing Center http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/bestpractices Link to Technical Assistance Resources http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/policy

16. 16 Conclusion This concludes the Offer versus Serve at Lunch training module. Please note that there are separate training modules titled: Lunch Meal Pattern – Part One and Part Two. Please make sure to review these modules as part of the lunch training.