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School Meals Videos

  • Reimbursable Meals

    • The USDA sets guidelines for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to align school meals with the latest nutrition science.  Student meals which meet specific nutrient and food group standards are eligible to receive reimbursement by the USDA.

  • Point of Service

    • Point of Service is the final step in serving student meals where a determination is made whether a student has selected a meal that meets USDA standards, and is eligible for reimbursement.
    • This video provides practical information about this responsibility in school food service, and can be useful for training School Nutrition Professionals, especially those serving food and conducting Point of Service at a cash register, in the classroom, at a kiosk, or wherever Point of Service occurs.  Practice assessment included.

  • Smart Snacks

    • Since July 2014, the federal government requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) to adopt Smart Snacks standards for all foods and beverages sold to students on the school campus during the school day. Compliance with these rules is embedded in every school systems’ Wellness Policy.
    • In addition to adopting the USDA Smart Snacks standard, Maryland schools have continued to uphold two beverage standards, which do not allow caffeinated beverages or diet sodas to be offered to students throughout the school day.  Some school districts have embraced more stringent rules than those of the USDA and Maryland Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in Schools.