Offer versus Serve (OVS)

General Information

OVS is only required for 9^th – 12^th grade students at lunch. It is optional (but encouraged) for K- 8^th grade students at lunch and K- 12^th grade students at breakfast.

• At breakfast, schools must offer at least four food items from the three required components (fruit, grains, fluid milk) and students must select at least three food items, one of which is ½ cup fruit and/or vegetable.
• At lunch, schools must offer all five components and students must select at least three components, one of which is ½ cup fruit and/or vegetable.

For specific quantities of what to offer each age/grade group, please refer to the meal pattern tables.

Resources

• Offer versus Serve In a Nutshell (Spanish)
• Offer versus Serve USDA Guidance Manual (currently under revision)
• Offer versus Serve Tip Sheets: (lunch) (breakfast) USDA
• Offering food to students bringing bag lunchUSDA
• Breakfast Offer versus Serve Handout
• Updated Offer versus Serve Guidance for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program in School Year 2015-16 SP 41-2015, USDA, 7/21/15

Training

• Offer versus Serve (OVS) - Meal or No Meal (Spanish)
  • A training resource created by the DPI School Nutrition Team (and adapted by USDA) to use for staff determining reimbursable meals.
• Offer Versus Serve Webcast