Offer versus Serve is a provision in the NSLP and School Breakfast Program that allows students to decline some of the food offered. The goals of OVS are to reduce food waste in the school meals programs while permitting students to decline foods they do not intend to eat.
The purpose of this memorandum is to distribute funding allocations in the amount of $25 million provided by the FY 2015 Agriculture Appropriations Act to state agencies that will competitively award equipment assistance grants to eligible school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program.
It has come to our attention that there may be some confusion concerning fluid milk, and how it is offered in reimbursable lunches. Under all menu planning approaches, fluid milk is a separate food component/menu item.