Each day, CPS serves more than 77,000 school breakfasts and 280,000 school lunches, providing our students with the nutrition necessary for healthy growth and intellectual development, in compliance with city, state and federal regulations and guidelines.
Goals
- Offer nutritious, appetizing meals that will contribute to the growth and good health of our students
- Provide a safe and pleasant environment for children's meals at school
- Contribute to our students' understanding of the benefits of eating healthy foods
- Comply with all city, state and federal regulations governing the preparation, serving and storage of school meals
- Maintain records and other procedures related to government programs
Program benefits
- A well-balanced, healthy diet will contribute to students being more alert and predisposed to learning.
- Children are more likely to eat the healthy food offered in a safe and pleasant environment.
- Children who receive instruction on nutrition will learn to make healthy food choices throughout their lives.
- Compliance with city, state and federal regulations will ensure correct and safe preparation, serving and storage of food in the schools.
2009-10 Reduced-Price Breakfast and Lunch Application
The 2009-10 Free and Reduced-Price Breakfast and Lunch Application is available now. Your child may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. For both elementary and high schools, reduced-price lunch is $.40. Breakfast is served at no charge to all students, regardless of their meal status.
To apply for free or reduced-price meals, complete the Household Eligibility Application. Please fill out the entire application. Incomplete applications cannot be approved. Once the application is complete, return it to your child’s school.
Download the Household Eligibility application in 
English or Spanish.
Snack vending approved product list
Snack vending machines are available to students in many high schools (see Board Policy 04-0623-PO1). Products offered for sale in vending machines must meet certain nutritional requirements and must be on the Snack vending approved product list.
Resources
Our goals are aimed at making sure our students receive healthy, nutritious and appetizing meals that will ultimately contribute to their success. There is a clear and direct cause and effect relationship between diet and performance in school. Learn more about Nutrition Support Services and related topics:
Hotline
Call the Nutrition Support Services hotline at 1-800-422-1145 and speak to a department representative to express comments and concerns related to school meal service.
View the latest health inspection for your child's school.
To view some of the documents provided on this page, you need Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this program, click download Adobe Acrobat Reader nowand follow the instructions.