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Offer versus Serve (OVS)

General Information

OVS is required at lunch for grades 9-12. It is optional (but encouraged) for grades K-8 at lunch and K-12 at breakfast.

  • At breakfast, schools must offer at least four food items from the three required components (fruit, grains and/or meat/meat alternates, fluid milk) and students must select at least three food items, one of which is 1/2 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 1/2 cup fruit and/or vegetable.

For specific quantities of what to offer each age/grade group, please refer to the Meal Pattern Tables.

If not using OVS for grades K-8 at lunch or K-12 at breakfast, students must be served all of the meal components as part of the planned menu that meets the daily and weekly meal pattern requirements. This meal service is called Serve Only. 

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