3.9.4 School Meals by Student Nutrition Services (SNS)

SFUSD’s Student Nutrition Services provides nutritionally balanced meals to students in our Early Education, TK-12, and County schools; every SFUSD School Site and every SFUSD student. Student Nutrition Services (SNS) is committed to providing students the equitable support they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond, by keeping them nourished along the way. We strive to create a student-centered, equitable, and financially stable school food ecosystem with thriving employees that provides dignified meal experiences and engages all students in a positive food culture. You can find your menus at sfusd.edu/menus. 

Since 2022, thanks to California Meals for All and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), SFUSD Student Nutrition Services is able to provide one Breakfast and one Lunch each school day that is served at no cost to all students.   

See additional benefits of free meals for students below: 

• No pre-enrollment or income verification is required for a student to receive free meals. (Any student who would like a meal can receive one.)
• Parents/Guardians can save time and money by taking advantage of free school meals! 
• Your participation helps direct available Federal and State funds to San Francisco and supports the meal program to improve and expand.

School meals are served by SNS Dining Staff at SFUSD school cafeterias and kitchens. Our team of over 200 dining staff are dedicated people who care deeply about the health of all students; our work wouldn’t be possible without their leadership, expertise, and historical knowledge. 

Learn more about our meal programs, initiatives, and dining staff at sfusd.edu/nutrition. See your school’s bell schedule for meal service times.

About Nutrition Guidelines

The District’s nutrition guidelines meet or exceed the standards outlined in Federal and State policies established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), California Department of Education (CDE) and California Department of Social Services (CDSS). We align our procurement practices with the Good Food Purchasing Policy (GFPP), supporting our commitment to the health and equity of our students and our food system. SNS sources high-quality ingredients, and all meals are free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, MSG, benzoates, bromates, sulfites, hydrogenated fat, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and sodium nitrites/nitrates.

Read or download the nutrition guidelines at sfusd.edu/bewell. Download our Never-Ever Ingredient Poster.

Funding

Operating as one of the largest food distributors in San Francisco, funding is always top of mind. Our operations are funded through reimbursements from Federal and State governments. Our innovation projects are funded by the Kodama Foundation, No Kid Hungry, the San Francisco Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax. Additionally, Prop A passed by the voters of San Francisco in November 2024, which secured over $220 Million for Student Nutrition Services to improve kitchen infrastructure and build the long-awaited central kitchen.

See chapter 3.11 for the Multipurpose Family Income Form (MFIF) to determine eligibility for free or reduced educational benefits. The form is not required for K-12 students to receive free school meals, but can help you qualify for other school fee waivers or city benefits, and can help SFUSD schools qualify for after-school supper, summer meals, and classroom funding! While a form on file is not required for K-12 students to receive free meals, one is required for EED standalone students. Students at the 11 independently located EED sites will need to submit a MFIF in order to receive free school meals so we can best report to the CACFP for reimbursement. 

Contact Us Link to this section

Website: www.sfusd.edu/schoolfood

Office location: 841 Ellis St. San Francisco, CA 94109

Email: SchoolLunch@sfusd.edu 

Phone: (415) 749-3604

Follow us on social media: @SFUSDschoolfood

What Food Is Served at School? Link to this section

We serve breakfast and lunch at all school sites. Supper is available at select schools and after-school programs thanks to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), see our list of Supper sites on our menu page - sfusd.edu/menus. Afternoon Snack is served in our Early Education schools and co-located, full-day early education programs. All meals are served at no cost to students. SNS also offers bagged lunches for school field trips. This order is placed by teachers or school staff when they schedule the field trip. Every day we strive to provide access throughout the school day with food that is healthy, culturally diverse, affordable, fair, sustainable, and loved by students. If your student attends middle or high school, they may be required to present their Student Meal Pin Number when getting their meal, but this does not charge them; it only helps us count the meals more accurately to be reimbursed. 

Breakfast

Student Nutrition Services is excited to expand access to breakfast for students through our Breakfast After the Bell program. This initiative offersbreakfast to students where they are and often provides additional time and access points for breakfast, usually after the school day has started, ensuring students are well-nourished and ready to focus on learning. Breakfast is offered free of charge for all students. 

Our breakfast programs include traditional line service breakfast and the Breakfast After the Bell expansion models, which include Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab n Go Breakfast, and Second Chance Breakfast. If you’re not sure which breakfast program your school offers, please reach out to your school site for more information.

Breakfast always includes the option of: 

• Grains (muffins, bagels, cereal, and more!) and/or protein options (yogurt, eggs, and more!)
• Fresh fruits (apples, pears, bananas, and more!)
• Milk.  Water stations are available in or near the cafeteria.

Lunch

Through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a nutritious lunch is offered every school day at every grade level, free of charge. Every school day, lunch includes the option of:  

• A choice of meat or vegetarian entrée. The type of meat is clearly labeled on all menus. Every entrée includes a protein and a grain. (For example: An All-Beef Hamburger or Pasta with Sauce and Plant-Based Crumble)
• Fresh fruits and vegetables (Apples, Oranges, Carrots, Broccoli, and more!)
• Milk.  Water stations are available in or near the cafeteria.

Supper

Any San Francisco youth, 18 years and under, are welcome to visit one of our Supper sites for a meal free of charge through the CACFP program. See all Supper sites that are open to the community on our website, sfusd.edu/schoolfood.

Infrastructure Improvements Impact School Food

Through infrastructure improvements, we have increased the number of meals we provide through our in-house menu program. The McAteer Culinary Center, a full-scale kitchen renovated in Fall 2019, serves meals to nearly 20 school sites. These sites include: 11 independently-located Early Education sites, the schools on the McAteer campus, and 5 independently located high schools. We're upgrading equipment at various schools to prepare more freshly made meals in-house prepared by our skilled dining staff. As facilities are upgraded to prepare and serve fresh food, our procurement practices will improve as well. We can purchase more high-quality food and ingredients in alignment with the Good Food Purchasing Program, allowing us to nourish our students with more local and sustainable menu options. These step by step improvements are moving us toward our goal to reduce 80% of our prepackaged items, which would cut down our plastic waste significantly. So far, these improvements have allowed us to implement 10 fresh choice salad bars at middle and high schools.

At schools with limited kitchen facilities, Student Nutrition Services partners with outside vendors to provide daily delivery of meals. All meals meet SFUSD's rigorous Nutrition Guidelines.

Special Dietary Needs Link to this section

SFUSD does not serve any items with peanuts or tree nuts. However, we do bring in products that may be produced in facilities that handle and process nuts, so we cannot guarantee that meals are completely free of traces of nuts or nut residue. SFUSD will provide food substitutions to a child with a disability, including those with dietary restrictions, when the need for substitution is supported by a written medical statement or completed California Department of Education medical statement form.  The form must be signed by a licensed physician, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner, and can be downloaded at www.sfusd.edu/specialmeals.

The written and signed medical statement must clearly identify/include the following details:

• Information about the child’s physical or mental impairment that is sufficient to allow SFUSD to understand how it restricts the child’s diet.
• A diet prescription or an explanation of what must be done to accommodate the child.
• Food(s) to be omitted from the child’s diet.
• Food or choice of foods that must be substituted in the child’s meals.

The fluid milk substitution form can be completed and signed by the student's parent/legal guardian.

Submit the completed dietary request forms by email to SchoolLunch@sfusd.edu. Please allow up to 10 business days for special diet orders to be available at your school. 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. Student Nutrition Services values providing a variety of protein sources on our menu and offers a vegetarian option daily.

For more information about Special Dietary Needs, including the California Department of Education medical statement forms and how to access allergen and nutrient reports, visit www.sfusd.edu/specialmeals.

Find more FAQs on our website at sfusd.edu/schoolfood.