FNS Documents & Resources

This rulemaking finalizes long-term school nutrition requirements based on the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, robust stakeholder input, and lessons learned from prior rulemakings.

Esta hoja de consejos fue diseñada para proporcionarles a los profesionales del servicio de alimentos de la escuela un resumen de las guías de Ofrecer versus Servir para el servicio de almuerzo.

Esta hoja de consejos fue diseñada para proporcionarles a los profesionales del servicio de alimentos de la escuela un resumen de las guías de Ofrecer versus Servir para el servicio de desayuno.

This tip sheet was designed for school foodservice professionals to provide an overview of Offer versus Serve guidance for breakfast meal service.

This tip sheet was designed for school foodservice professionals to provide an overview of Offer versus Serve guidance for lunch meal service.

This rulemaking proposes long-term school nutrition standards based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, and feedback the USDA received from child nutrition program stakeholders during a robust stakeholder engagement campaign. 

During the public health emergency due to COVID-19, FNS waives, for all states, requirements that limit the use of Offer versus Serve to school food authorities and require sponsors to apply OVS under the rules followed for the National School Lunch Program.

FNS is establishing a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus for school year 2020-21.

Offer versus Serve is a provision in the NSLP and School Breakfast Program that allows students to decline some of the food offered. The goals of OVS are to reduce food waste in the school meals programs while permitting students to decline foods they do not intend to eat. 

This guidance replaces the 2004 edition of the Offer versus Serve in the School Nutrition Programs Resource Guide. In addition, please note that this guidance will be revised for School Year 2014-15 and beyond to reflect newly implemented meal pattern requirements as they are phased in.