Menu Planning

Our dietitians focus on balancing many aspects of menu planning to provide healthy, tasty meals to our customers. These include regulations established by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Maryland State Department of Education, food safety, cost, preparation, storage, and seasonal availability.

We collaborate with manufacturers and develop specifications to provide foods that not only taste good, but also are low in fats and sodium. New products are tested periodically with student groups. If results are positive, the products are introduced on menus for all students.

We will always try different ways to present the product, believing that, over time, students will become more accustomed to having these foods as a regular part of meal service. Research shows that it can take up to ten times of tasting and experiencing a food for a child to accept it, and DFNS is happy to be a part of that journey with our students.

MCPS menus are planned in cycles during the school year. Different menu items may be offered for a specific period of time and then replaced with new offerings later. This allows us to increase the variety of foods offered during the year. We strive for menus that include student favorites and dishes that reflect the cultural diversity of our student body.

Beyond the Menu 

We continue to promote and maintain a healthy school environment. We understand that students may wish to purchase additional food items throughout the day, such as an additional entree at breakfast, an extra beverage at lunch, or snack from the vending machine. Items for sale in the cafeteria, through vending machines, school stores, athletic departments, and fundraisers must align with both USDA Smart Snack Guidelines and MSDE Nutrition Standards for food sold in schools. All items available for sale are in compliance with JPG-RA, Wellness: Physical and Nutritional Health. Specific items vary at each school.

À La Carte Items From the Cafe

Students are able to purchase additional menu items during meal service each day. This is called “à la carte.” School administration works with DFNS to determine which items are available for purchase during meal service. Students must have funds in their MySchoolBucks account or cash in hand to purchase items a la carte.

À la carte pricing information is available online for Elementary schools and Secondary schools. For specific information regarding items available at your child’s school or to request that the purchase of à-la-carte items be restricted, please contact the school directly.

Vending Machine Items

DFNS  partners with vendors to provide schools the opportunity to place vending machines within their building.  Vending machines that are accessible to students and on during the school day must contain snacks and beverages that meet USDA Smart Snack Guidelines and the MSDE Nutrition Standards for Foods Sold in Schools.

Healthy Bites

DFNS offers school staff and administrators the opportunity to purchase food and beverages to complement school activities, such as parent breakfasts and PTA meetings. These items provide lite refreshments and are perfect for smaller, more casual settings. For a complete list of items available, please reach out to your school cafeteria manager or the DFNS home office.

Approved Beverages

• Milk: Only low-fat (1% or less) and fat-free (skim) flavored or unflavored fluid milk and USDA-approved alternative dairy beverages. Limited serving size to maximum of 8 fluid ounces.
• Fruit and vegetable juices: 100% juice with no sweeteners (nutritive or non-nutritive). Limited serving size to maximum of 6 fluid ounces in elementary schools.
• Water: No sweeteners (nutritive or non-nutritive), noncarbonated, caffeine-free. No flavored water in elementary schools.