School Meals

Breakfast

Breakfast in the Classroom

Schools offering this program deliver breakfast to students' classrooms, or provides a bagged breakfast that they can bring to class. Having a healthy breakfast helps students think and perform better in class.

This program is only available to certain schools. Please speak to your school's administration to find out if they offer Breakfast in the Classroom.

Breakfast After the Bell

Our free breakfast is available even if a student comes in late. It is served all morning, before the first lunch service. All a student has to do is walk into the cafeteria and ask an employee for breakfast.

Lunch

OFNS works hard to make sure every school meal is healthy, balanced, and just the right size for growing children. We follow special USDA rules that tell us how many calories can be in each meal, and we are regularly checked to make sure we are doing it correctly. At lunchtime, children can choose all five meal parts: a protein, a vegetable, a grain, a fruit, and milk.

Many schools also offer a salad bar to go along with lunch. The salad bar lets children pick from a variety of fresh vegetables and beans to add to their meal.

Some schools also have a share table in the cafeteria. If a child has an unopened food item, such as a piece of fruit, that they decide not to eat, they can place it on the share table for another student to enjoy. This helps healthy food get eaten instead of going to waste. Families can contact their OFNS Manager to learn more about having a share table at their school.

Every food item we serve, including new menu choices, follows Federal, State, and New York City nutrition standards. OFNS also has additional rules about ingredients. We do not allow many artificial colors, artificial flavors, certain sweeteners, preservatives, and other ingredients that do not meet our nutrition standards. A complete list of prohibited ingredients is available on Nutritional Information.

Extended Day

Afterschool Meals

Every child who participates in an afterschool program is provided a snack or supper, upon request. To see if your child's school has an Afterschool Meals program, speak to the school's administration.

Saturday and Holiday Meals

If a school hosts an activity on a Saturday or holiday, students are eligible to receive a morning snack and/or lunch, depending on the time and length of the activity. Speak to your school administration to see which services are available.

View the Holiday Meal Request Schedule (log-in required).

Extended Day Programs Contact

If you represent a school that is interested or has questions:

• Email SF-SpecialPrograms@schools.nyc.gov
• Call 718-707-4320
• Apply for afterschool meals (log-in required)

Kosher & Halal 

Kosher Meal Service Request

Kosher meals are available upon request. Please speak with your school administration to identify a need for kosher meal service at your school.

Halal Meal Service Request

An expanded selection of certified Halal meals is available through our Halal Food Program upon request. Parents and guardians who are interested in expanded certified Halal meal service for their school community should contact their school administration, parent association, and the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at food@schools.nyc.gov to discuss available options.

Early Childhood and Pre-K

Pre-K for All Meals

Participating pre-K programs offer students nutritious breakfast, lunch and afterschool meals each day. Meal service is a way for learning and social interaction by serving meals 'family style' to Pre-K programs.

Infant-Toddler Meals

The Infant-Toddler Program supports student parents and their children by offering childcare, academic guidance, and social advocacy. In addition, we provide healthy, age-appropriate meals for both infants and toddlers that meet the New York State Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Guidelines.

We recognize that each child develops at their own pace, and have implemented specific guidelines to minimize choking risks, making mealtime both safe and educational for our youngest learners.

Making Mealtime Safe for Infants and Toddlers in Schools: Guidelines to Reduce the Risk of Choking

By following these guidelines, we aim to create a mealtime that is safe and positive that supports the growth and development of infants and toddlers.

Foods are Prepared Easy to Chew

• Recipes include specific instructions and menu notes for infants and toddlers
• Firm foods, like carrots are cooked or steamed until soft enough to easily pierce with a fork
• Round foods are sliced lengthwise into short strips
• Seeds, pits, and tough skins or peels are removed from fruits and vegetables
• Soft foods are cut into thin slices, strips, or small pieces no larger than ½ inch, especially fruits and vegetables, which can be harder to chew
• Upon request, food texture may be modified by pureeing, mashing, slicing, or finely chopping
• Honey or foods prepared with honey are not served to infants or toddlers
• Chicken on the bone is not served

Common Choking Hazards Avoided

Not offered to infants and toddlers: small, sticky, or hard foods that are difficult to chew and easy to swallow whole. Examples include:

• Cheese cubes
• Dried fruits like raisins
• Hard pretzels and baked tortilla chips
• Sunflower seeds
• Spoonfuls of peanut or other nut/seed butters
• Whole round or tube-shaped foods such as grapes, cherry tomatoes, and raw carrots (unless cut to appropriate sizes)
• Ice cubes

Food Safety

Food Safety at NYC Public Schools

At New York City Public Schools, every student deserves access to safe, nutritious, and high-quality meals. The Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) is committed to maintaining the highest food safety standards across every stage of our school meals program, from the sourcing and delivery of food products to the preparation and service of meals in schools.

A Comprehensive Approach to Food Safety

Our food safety program combines rigorous oversight, continuous monitoring, and adherence to federal, state, and local regulations to help ensure the safety and quality of the meals served to students every day.

Quality Assurance (QAS)

The Quality Assurance team oversees food safety and product quality throughout the supply and distribution process. QA Inspectors conduct inspections of food products and distributors, evaluating delivery conditions, product temperatures, packaging and labeling, storage practices, transportation methods, and overall product quality. The team also responds to product-related concerns and supports investigations to ensure food supplied to schools meets established safety and quality standards.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)

The HACCP team focuses on food safety within our schools. HACCP Advisors conduct food safety assessments in school kitchens and meal service locations to ensure compliance with food safety requirements and safe food handling practices. They evaluate food temperatures, sanitation, storage conditions, employee practices, and meal preparation and service procedures. The team also provides guidance and supports corrective actions whenever food safety concerns are identified. Together, these teams provide multiple layers of oversight to help ensure food safety throughout our program.

Monitoring Food Safety Alerts and Recalls

OFNS continuously monitors food safety notifications and advisories issued by public health agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). When food recalls or safety alerts occur, our teams review affected products and take immediate action when necessary.

If NYC Public Schools receives notification of a potential food safety concern involving products served in our schools, established protocols are activated immediately. These measures may include removing affected products from service, conducting investigations, and coordinating with public health authorities to determine appropriate next steps.

Family Notification and Communication

In the event of a confirmed food safety issue that may impact students, NYC Public Schools will work closely with health authorities and follow all recommended guidance. If there is a confirmed risk of exposure to a food-borne illness affecting students, school administrators will contact impacted families directly and provide timely information and guidance. The school community will also be informed as appropriate.

Our Commitment

The health, safety, and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. Through comprehensive food safety practices, ongoing monitoring, and dedicated Quality Assurance and HACCP teams, OFNS works every day to provide families with confidence that school meals are prepared, handled, and served with the highest standards of care.

Share Table

Share Tables are designated tables in the cafeteria where students can place specific unconsumed food and beverage items that they choose not to eat or drink. This allows other students the opportunity to take additional helpings of these items without compromising our Federal and State regulations.

For several years, OFNS has encouraged the use of a Share Table in the cafeterias. We encourage every school to implement a share table in their cafeteria. This can help reduce the amount of food waste and encourage the consumption of food served.

For food safety reasons, this practice must be limited to only food and beverage items that do not require additional cooling or heating.

Food Help NYC

To locate nearby food pantries and soup kitchens offering free meals, use Food Help NYC.

Farm to School

Farm to School schools let students grow and harvest food at community gardens. They hold seasonal harvest events in May, June, October, and November. This gives students a unique opportunity to taste what they have grown. Schools receive culinary support from the Garden to Café coordinator as they plan for harvest events. We partner with Grow to Learn NYC to identify possible Farm to School schools.

Food Donations

School communities have the power to support students and families through food donations. Donating food diverts food waste from landfills and puts food on the table for students and families in need. Donations of nonperishable and unspoiled perishable food from school kitchens will help stock the shelves in homes, food pantries, food banks, soup kitchens, shelters, and community organizations.

Plastic Free Lunch Day

Plastic Free Lunch Day (PFLD) was started by students at PS 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn and grew to a citywide and nationally recognized model for tangible climate action.

At OFNS, we helped develop several menus that do not require the use of plastic during the preparation and service of the menu at least once a month. No packaged items are offered except milk, which is packaged in a container that can go into the blue recycling bin. Menu items such as pizza and sandwiches are accompanied by fruits and vegetables that are easy to eat with your hands. Utensils are not needed for this menu but are available upon request. This allows students to take climate action by eliminating plastic when participating in our lunch program on that day. Please look for PFLD on your menus and help make a difference.