Frequently Asked Questions

How does my student know what is for lunch?

All menus are available at SchoolMenu.com or on line via the Child Nutrition Services web site.Hard copies are also available in every school office and at the Child Nutrition Services office.

How much does lunch cost?

Elementary school lunch costs $3.25. Value meals are offered at Middle Schools for $3.50 and High Schools for $4.00 and $5.00 along with a variety of ala carte items. Breakfast is offered at Middle and High Schools for $2.25. Meals are also available to students of families in need at reduced prices or at no cost depending on income. Applications are available in your school office or cafeteria and must be updated at the beginning of each school year.

What comes with the lunch?

At elementary schools 3 to 5 different entrees are available, including a meatless item, along with milk (non-fat, 1%, soy and organic), 100%juice, unlimited salad bar, and fruit every day. At middle and high schools a large variety of ala carte items is available along with the ‘value meal’ menu that includes a choice of entrees plus milk, 100%juice, fruit and small salad. Salad bar is also available in designated areas.

How do students pay for lunch?

Students may pay daily or, using their I.D. number, access a prepaid account. Prepaid accounts are started by submitting a check or cash to the cafeteria or in the office in a CNS envelope available in the school office and can be maintained the same way. Parents may also submit funds and monitor student accounts and purchasing online by visiting http://www.MySchoolBucks.com/. If an elementary school student account runs out of money we will continue to feed them and parents will be notified and accounts will continue to build negative balances. Notifications arrive via letter, email reminder (with mynutrikids account) and phone call from school principal when negative balances exceed $10. Students in grades 6 through 12 are not allowed to run a negative balance. All account balances, both positive and negative, roll seamlessly from year to year. Graduating high school seniors must reconcile any negative balance or certain privileges may be revoked.

How is the menu planned?

California school food regulations require that nutritional content of the all foods must meet USDA guidelines for calories, fat, sugar and sodium while monitoring protein, iron, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C. In addition a food based menu plan is used requiring vegetables, fruit and milk for all National School Lunch Program reimbursed meals.

What if I have a child with food allergies?

PUSD menus are free of nuts and tree nuts. Several gluten free items are also available. Ingredients and Nutrient lists are available at each school in either the cafeteria or school office. Information is also available by calling our office @ 426-4417

What if my child is a vegetarian?

Meatless entrees are available daily. The salad bar is also available as an entrée to students and staff.

In an effort to provide nutrient rich meals to students new USDA regulations focus on the healthy nutritional benefits of milk and no longer allow us to offer water as part of the lunch meal. CNS encourages all students to carry refillable water bottles for proper hydration and to support “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” efforts.