Schools who take advantage of the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) options under the USDA’s child nutrition programs potentially see less food waste.
Under OVS, students are permitted to take three components of a five-component meal and schools may still claim reimbursement for said meal. All five components (dairy, meat or meat alternate, grains, fruits and vegetables) must be offered and one of the taken components must be a fruit or vegetable.
Posters — which use reader-friendly language and colors to inform students about OVS — and guides are available for schools who take advantage of the option.
