4.2 - Food & Nutrition Program

Food & Nutrition Program 

All of SFUSD's Early Education Department schools participate in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and/or the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which is fulfilled by the SFUSD Student Nutrition Services Department (SNS). SNS school meals meet the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), California Department of Education (CDE), and California Department of Social Services (CDSS) nutrition guidelines, as well as SFUSD Nutrition Guidelines and Wellness Policy, which go above and beyond federal nutrition regulations. Our meal plans, which include Breakfast and Lunch, are free to all students enrolled in the food program. Snack is also free for students enrolled in full day, year-round PreK programs. Supper is also free for all San Francisco youth 18 years and under and is available at participating school sites, which can be found at sfusd.edu/schoolfood. 

The 11 standalone EES sites have their meals sourced from SFUSD’s McAteer Culinary Center. All EED sites located on Elementary School campuses receive meals from SNS’s meal vendor, Revolution Foods, which is strictly held to our nutritional standards as well. Children and families can consult the menus on the school's main bulletin board, as well as in every classroom and on the SFUSD website at sfusd.edu/menus. The monthly menus are subject to change since they are created ahead of time. This could be due to supply shortages, student preference at a school, or alternative barriers to providing menued items. All menus exclude foods identified as choking hazards for Pre-K children. For a list of these foods, please refer to the USDA’s Reducing the Risk of Choking in Young Children at Mealtimes resource.

SFUSD will provide food substitutions to a child with a disability, including those with dietary restrictions, when the need for a substitution is supported by a written medical statement or completed California Department of Education medical statement form submitted to Student Nutrition Services that is signed by a Registered Dietitian, licensed physician, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner. The medical statement forms can be found online at sfusd.edu/specialmeals. Please note that SFUSD does not offer special dietary accommodations due to diet preferences that are not considered a disability, such as religious beliefs, moral reasons, taste preferences, or lifestyle choices.

We encourage all children to participate in the meal program, as it helps them feel included in the classroom community and allows them to enjoy mealtime with their peers. However, if a family does not want their student to participate in the school meal program and does not want the school to offer them food, they may opt out by completing and submitting a decline form (CACFP Form 11, Declining Participation in the CACFP) to schoollunch@sfusd.edu. Students with a decline form on file will not be served school-provided meals. All other students, including those who bring food from home, will be offered a school meal each day.

All food brought in by parents or guardians for classroom celebrations must follow the SFUSD and County Office of Education Board Policy 5030 Wellness Policy and SFUSD Nutrition Guidelines for All Food & Beverages, which focus on fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean proteins, and whole grains. Please visit sfusd.edu/bewell for additional wellness resources.

SFUSD is the second school district in the nation to adopt the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP), a 5-value framework that uses the power of procurement to promote transparent and equitable food practices. As the largest public food provider in San Francisco, Student Nutrition Services has the opportunity to participate in a national shift toward a healthier food system. Learn more at www.goodfoodpurchasing.org.

Learn About the Multipurpose Family Income Form (MFIF)

Our Early Education School Sites depend on families submitting the annual MFIF for meal reimbursements and meal program funding. We encourage all families to submit the MFIF in order for the District to receive accurate reimbursement and to continue providing fulfilling and nutrient rich meals to our students. The MFIF also helps families qualify for city programs and school benefits. Visit sfusd.edu/mfif for more information on how to apply.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can continue supporting our SFUSD Early Education students!