Who: Missouri schools
What:
Many school nutrition directors are familiar with the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) program under the National School Breakfast and National School Lunch programs. However, some may not be aware that OVS is also available for schools serving afterschool meals under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in Missouri.
Breakfast, lunch and afterschool meal programs allow nutrition directors to serve multi-component meals to children and (in many cases) receive federal reimbursements. Fuller breakfast meals consist of four components (grains OR meat / meat alternate, fruits, vegetables and milk); lunch and afterschool program participants may serve five-component meals (grains, meat or meat alternate, fruits, vegetables and milk). In an Offer versus Serve model, schools can present the components separately to students at the point of sale. Students can choose as few as three components and the meal is still reimbursable (at least one of the components must be a ½ cup of fruit or vegetable).
In one school that launched the CACFP in Southern Missouri, student participation was high; but unfortunately, so was waste. Many students weren’t consuming some of the full, five component meals being served. Discovering that Offer Versus Serve could be used with CACFP helped the school change matters for the better.
- OVS cannot be used with snack (two component) meals.
- OVS is considered inappropriate for preschool children
Steps:
- Contact the DHSS’ Bureau of Community Food and Nutrition Assistance.
- CACFP sponsors should always inform state officials when changing your service model.
- This can be in the form of an email, letter or telephone call.
- CACFP@health.mo.gov
- 573-751-6269, or 800-733-6251
- P.O. Box 570; Jefferson City, MO 65102
