MCPS Nutrition Action Plan

The Department of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) supports healthy meal options for students and continually explores new ways to enhance the nutritional contribution and student acceptability of meals. All foods available during the school day, including vending machines and à la carte, not only meet current USDA guidelines and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, but also the specific nutritional requirements of the MCPS Wellness Policy.

DFNS recognizes that the cafeteria is each school’s largest classroom. Whether it is modeling healthy eating, providing nutrition education, or promoting plant-based and plant-forward entrées, DFNS is committed to providing students with the opportunity to make smart food choices to follow them through the rest of their lives.

Continuous Initiatives 

• Ensure sodium levels do not exceed the national required levels set by USDA.
• Continue to expand communications and community outreach.
• Further increase the availability and variety of fresh fruit, vegetable, and salad choices.
• Engage our students through focus groups and taste tests.
• Establish nutrition guidelines for all products sold à la carte and in vending machines that meet the nutritional requirements of the MCPS Wellness Policy.
• Expand the number of schools participating in Maryland Meals for Achievement (universal breakfast program).
• Provide transparency through line signage cards with cultural/philosophical dietary preferences listed, posted menus, and allergen information.

Food Safety

Serving safe food is a high priority for Food and Nutrition Services staff. More than 800 employees work in elementary, middle, and high school cafeterias, the food services central production facility, food services warehouse, and central office to provide safe and nutritious meals to the students of Montgomery County. We are proud of our long record of serving safe and nutritious meals.

We follow proper food safety procedures in all aspects of handling food, from receiving and storing to preparing and serving, and we use Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedures to monitor and record critical temperatures.

Products prepared in the temperature-controlled central production facility as well as products received from many vendors are delivered in refrigerated trucks. School food service staff follow standard operating procedures to prepare and serve safe foods to our customers.

Health inspections are conducted routinely by the Montgomery County Health Department, Office of Licensure and Regulatory Services. The inspection reports and licenses are posted in the kitchen/cafeteria area and can be viewed by the public. In addition, managers conduct Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point  self-inspections in their school twice a year.

Cafeteria managers are certified in food safety and all employees receive food safety training, both on the job and at regular in-service meetings.

Nutrition and Allergen Information

We welcome the opportunity to provide parents with information that will allow students to participate in the school meal programs. The information provided is based on current information from manufacturers, recipes for MCPS-produced items, and nutritional analysis software.

Please be aware that there are factors that may affect a product’s actual nutritional value and/or ingredient composition at any given time:

• Manufacturers’ formulations may change without notice.
• USDA-donated products may become available at any time during the year and may replace a purchased item.
• Product brands may change during the year as new bids are approved.
• Schools may be using inventory from a previous bid or manufacturer.
• MCPS recipes may change during the school year.
• À-la-carte snack items vary from school to school, so check with the cafeteria manager at your school for specific information and/or to restrict purchases.

MealViewer is DFNS’ menu tool that has the most current and up-to-date information on food served. Please visit MealViewer and select a school to view product-specific information.

Guidance for Accommodating Students with Severe Peanut and Tree Nut Allergies

Special Dietary Needs

Does your child have a food allergy or require a special meal plan related to a medical condition? DFNS makes reasonable accommodations, including modifying student meals to accommodate disabilities which restrict a child’s diet. If your child plans to eat meals from the school cafeteria, complete the Special Dietary Needs form and email it to DFNSOffice@mcpsmd.org. You can access the form in: English / español / français / 中文 / Portuguese / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ

The form must be completed in its entirety and signed by a state-licensed healthcare professional. Once the form is received, a DFNS Registered Dietitian will review the form to determine whether accommodations can be met within the DFNS menu or if the student will require an individualized meal plan. The DFNS Registered Dietitian will contact the parents or guardians with next steps, and share information with the cafeteria manager at each school.

DFNS works closely with nursing staff to ensure food allergies identified on Form 525-14 or SR-6 are communicated to school cafeteria staff; however, a Special Dietary Needs form is still required for accommodations to be made outside of the federally required meal pattern. 

If a parent or guardian wishes to discontinue a dietary accommodation, written notification must be submitted to  DFNSOffice@mcpsmd.org.

Refer to each school’s digital menu at MealViewer for item-specific allergen information. Major allergens are displayed for all planned menu items, and parents can filter menu items by which allergen they do/do not contain.

Frequently Asked Questions

My child has special dietary needs. How does MCPS provide for them?

For students requiring a special meal plan related to a medical condition or food allergy, complete the Special Dietary Needs form and email it to DFNSOffice@mcpsmd.org. Access the form in: English / español / français / 中文 / Portuguese / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in Child Nutrition Programs, including but not limited to conditions that impair immune, digestive, neurological, and bowel functions. General health concerns, such as a parent’s preference that a child eat a gluten-free diet because the parent believes it is healthier for the child, are not required to be accommodated. DFNS strives to plan and implement menus that meet the diverse needs and preferences of our student population.

What milk options are available in school?    

In accordance with the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, milk is offered with both breakfast and lunch. DFNS offers low-fat (1%) milk, fat-free milk, and soy milk. Students requesting a soy milk alternative do not need to submit any documentation. Students requiring a milk alternate other than soy will need to submit the Special Dietary Needs form and email it to DFNSOffice@mcpsmd.org.

My child is diabetic. What can be done to help keep the diabetes under control when he/she eats at school?

Nutrient information, including carbohydrate content of menu items, is available on MealViewer. DFNS works closely with the MCPS Nursing Staff to ensure carbohydrate content of menu items is available to support students on insulin or similar medications.

Our family is vegetarian. Are vegetarian lunches provided?

Meatless options are available every day during the week and indicated on MealViewer with the  symbol. These include items such as Cheese Crunchers, vegetarian Chik’N Nuggets, Bean and Cheese Pupusa, Veggie Burger, Penne Pasta with vegan meat sauce, Chickpea Tikka Masala, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese pizzas, macaroni and cheese, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. A number of our vegetarian options are also vegan! Talk with your school administration and cafeteria manager about possible arrangements that may be made to provide students with a meatless meal if one is not part of the selections on a specific day.

Where can I find nutritional information about menu items served in the school cafeterias?

Nutrient (calories, fat, sodium, etc.) and allergen (wheat, dairy, eggs, etc.) information for breakfast and lunch menu items for elementary, middle, and high school menus is found online at MealViewer. While nutrition information is current for the school year, periodic updates are made as new products are introduced, recipes are modified, or manufacturer's information changes. It is a good idea to check for updates periodically.

MCPS strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, due to factors mentioned above, guarantees are not possible. Information is provided as a guide to help students and parents make the best selections possible for their individual situations.

What programs are in place to help reduce cafeteria waste?

DFNS encourages the use of a Share Table in spaces where meal services take place - typically the classroom and cafeteria - to help reduce the amount of food waste. Share Tables are designated spaces where students can place specific food and drink items that they choose not to eat or drink. These items are available to all students during the meal service and provides an opportunity for students to take additional servings of these items.

In order to maintain food safety, DFNS encourages schools to discard any leftover Share Table items immediately following the meal service.

In order to facilitate less cafeteria waste, DFNS also utilizes biodegradable and recyclable cafeteria trays.