For the 2021-22 school year, Orange County Public Schools’ Food and Nutrition Services Department through a USDA waiver, will provide meals for all OCPS students in school at no charge. This will include breakfast, lunch, and supper.
“This support for parents and children from USDA will certainly come in handy for anyone who has had their income interrupted or changed,” explained Lora Gilbert, Sr. Director of Food and Nutrition Services. Earlier this year, research documented that the school menus provide the healthiest meal many children get all day. Also, this year, parents will receive communication from their school on how to reserve meals if their child is quarantined due to a COVID-19 case.
The OCPS meals contain kid-friendly entrees such as turkey sausage and egg sandwiches, overnight oats and fruit, waffles and chicken, pizza bagels, or strawberry or peaches and cream yogurt with banana bread or granola for breakfast. Lunch and supper also include a fruit and vegetable, entrees such as taco salad, mini-cheese burger sliders, roasted chicken, homemade chili and a new item: hot wings, Brazilian Sweet Bun and plantains.
The district’s food service goal is to increase the amount of local produce purchased from farmers. Last year cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, green beans, oranges and watermelon were on the menu and fresh from the farm.
To view the tasty meals OCPS Food and Nutrition Services will be serving up, check out the Mealviewer App.
