Free & Reduced Lunch

If your family qualifies for the free or reduced lunch program, here is a brief review of how the program works.

In some instances many families whose students qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch have been charged for meals because their child has not selected all the components of a reimbursable meal.

For a meal to be eligible for a free or reduced rate, students must choose 3 full portions of the 5 meal components offered, with at least one choice being a fruit or vegetable.

If your student does not select all 3 of the components of a free meal, the cost of the entrée gets charged to your family's school account.

The 5 food group selections offered each day include:

• milk
• fruit
• vegetable
• meat/or protein (or an approved meat alternative)
• whole grain

As an example, a student might choose a chicken sandwich—which counts as a protein and grain—and a whole apple as a reimbursable meal.

If a student chooses only the sandwich and milk, this would not be a reimbursable meal until the student also selects a serving of a fruit or vegetable.

To help educate students at each school, the District and food service provider Aramark have signage posted in the lunch service line which illustrates the correct components of food from each group that should be selected for each meal to qualify as a free/reduced price lunch.

The District asks that parents review with their student the correct number of selections from each food group to select in order for them to receive their free lunch (Please see the info graphic provided by Aramark below that explains the process.)

If you have further questions, please contact Kathy Pagoria in the District Business Office at kpagoria@palos118.org.