School Meals Trays, Many Ways | Food and Nutrition Service

Resource type

Training and Outreach

There are many ways, to offer school lunch and breakfast trays. Although school meals must meet federal meal pattern requirements, school districts choose what foods go on the menu. School lunch and breakfast menus may look different based upon local and regional food preferences, what foods are produced locally, and what items might be in season. Check the list below and the slide show on the top (clicking the arrows on the left and right side of each image) to see professional photographs of delicious and nutritious meals from across the country that students are lining up to eat.

(V) = Vegetarian Meal
(L) = Locally Procured/Uses Local Ingredients

Featured Breakfast Trays

District of Columbia (DC): DC Public Schools

Breakfast burrito
Salsa
Grapes
Choice of milk

Illinois: Chicago Public Schools

Tofu taco (V)
Potato wedges
Orange wedges
Choice of milk

Featured Lunch Trays

	Arizona: Mesa Public Schools Spaghetti with ground beef Garlic knot Broccoli Salad Apple Choice of milk
	California: San Francisco Unified School District (V) Whole grain-rich bean and cheese pupusa (L) with Suzie’s spicy lime slaw (L) and hot sauce Baby carrots and refried beans Kiwi and orange wedges Choice of milk
	Georgia: Gwinnett County Public Schools Halal hamburger on whole grain-rich bun Celery sticks with light ranch dressing and roasted brussels sprouts Orange wedges and sliced strawberries Choice of milk
	Iowa: South Tama County Community School District Gourmet pork crispitos with cilantro salad Spanish rice Refried beans Mixed fruit Choice of milk
	Maine: Kittery School District Fish taco (L) Brown rice Salad Coleslaw with avocado crema Diced peaches Choice of milk
	Maine: Windham Raymond School District Turkey breast panini Roasted potato wedges Roasted edamame salad (L) Granny smith apple Choice of milk (L)
	Massachusetts: Boston Public Schools Buffalo fish bites (L) Brown rice and whole grain-rich dinner roll Chickpea salad and roasted sweet potatoes Bartlett pear and wild blueberries Choice of milk (L)
	Minnesota: Minneapolis Public Schools Tempura rice bowl made with chicken, brown rice, broccoli, carrots, edamame, and teriyaki sauce Diced cantaloupe Choice of milk
	Montana: Philipsburg School District Bison and barley soup (L) Purple pirate potatoes (L) Homemade whole-wheat muffins Apple slices (L) Choice of milk
	New York: Hilton Central Schools Chicken Philly pita Baked sweet potato fries Broccoli Apple (L) Choice of milk (L)
	New York: New York City Public Schools (V) White bean and pasta primavera Roasted tomatoes Apple (L) Choice of milk (L)
	Puerto Rico: Christian Military Academy Puerto Rican brown rice with pigeon peas Beefsteak (L) Shredded lettuce and carrots Orange Choice of milk (L)
	South Carolina: Greenville County Schools (V) Chili vegetarian baked potato Whole grain roll (L) Broccoli Salad Honeydew Choice of milk
	Texas: North East Independent School District Pork street tacos with pico de gallo (L) Seasoned black beans and Mexican street corn Sliced strawberries Choice of milk
	Virginia: Chesterfield County Public Schools Harvest spinach and apple chicken salad with light ranch dressing Whole grain-rich dinner roll and whole grain-rich cheese crackers Oven-baked fries Grapes Choice of milk
	Virginia: Virginia Beach City Public Schools Whole grain-rich chicken and vegetable dumplings with low-sodium soy sauce Roasted ranch broccoli Sweet potato souffle (L) Applesauce Choice of milk
	Washington: Bellingham Public Schools (V) Chickpea masala (L) Brown rice Peas Carrots sticks Mixed blueberries (L) and sliced pears Choice of milk
	Washington: Washougal Schools Grilled BBQ chicken quesadilla Salsa Broccoli Grapefruit Kiwi Choice of milk