Offer Versus Serve (OVS) at Breakfast
NOTIFICATION LETTER FOR HOUSEHOLDS
Our school nutrition department participates in the School Breakfast Program, and implements Offer versus Serve. OVS allows students to decline some of the food offered as part of a complete meal. The goals of OVS are to reduce food waste in the school nutrition programs and to allow students more customization of the meal they select. For general OVS guidelines, please read the Understanding the Breakfast Line section below.
Understanding the Breakfast Line
At breakfast, all students have the opportunity to take, at a minimum, milk, fruit, and grains. We also may add protein and vegetables to the breakfast offerings. While the most nutritious breakfast contains all of the offered items, we understand that sometimes our students do not like some of the items we serve. To make our customers happy, we like to give them the option to decline items they do not want to eat.
For breakfast, students must choose at least three offered items for their meal. One of the items selected must be a fruit or vegetable.
Example Menu for Breakfast*
Egg Sandwich on a Biscuit (Noted here as one item)
1/2 cup Seasoned Potatoes
1 cup Strawberries
8oz of Milk
With Offer versus Serve at breakfast, your student could choose:
- Seasoned Potatoes, Strawberries, and Milk (Vegetable + Fruit + Milk)
- Biscuit Sandwich, Strawberries, and Milk (Grain + Fruit + Milk)
- Biscuit Sandwich, Strawberries, and Seasoned Potatoes (Grain + Fruit + Vegetable)
Even though the school participates in Offer versus Serve, students are not required to decline items and can take all items offered. The choice is up to them! If you student comes home and says they did not get enough to eat at breakfast, ask if they are taking all of the items offered to them. Don't hesitate to reach out to Joyce Hulsman at 812-678-2251 ext 385 if you have any questions about the menu.
*Keep in mind that some cafeterias offer multiple options within each food group and many offer different serving styles such as breakfast in the classroom. Talk with our team if you have any questions about the choices your student has at breakfast.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.