Offer Versus Serve

Presented By: Gloria Zunker, ConsultantGrants Coordination and School Support

School Nutrition ProgramsAugust 2011

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What is Offer Versus Serve?

a. An alternative way to start a tennis match?

b. A food service style where students serve themselves?

c. A new way to offer more food choices on school menus?

d. A system designed to decrease food waste and give students greater flexibility?

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Offer Versus Serve

•d. A system designed to decrease food waste and give students greater flexibility.

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What is Offer Versus Serve?

Offer Versus Serve (or OVS) is a concept that applies to Child Nutrition menu planning and to the determination of reimbursable school meals. OVS allows students to decline some of the food offered in a school lunch or breakfast.

VIDEO

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Who, When, and Where

• OVS is:– Required at senior high schools.– Optional at lower grade levels.– Optional at breakfast in all grades.

• Who decides?– School Food Authority decides:

• Whether to implement OVS when optional and in what grades.

• Whether students below high school can decline 1 or 2 food items at lunch.

– Students decide what foods to decline.

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OVS Reimbursable Lunches

For OVS lunch to be reimbursable,•Schools must:

• offer at least the minimum serving sizes for all 5 food items.

• price lunch as a unit.

OVS Reimbursable Lunches

• Students must:

• select the minimum number of items required (at least 3 of 5 for senior high; 3, 4 or 5 for lower grades).

• take full serving to count toward a reimbursable meal.

• Students may:

• decline any food item, including entrée or milk.

• take smaller portions of declined food items (does not affect price).

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OVS Reimbursable Lunches

Note:

• If a student chooses not to select at least three of the food components, then the lunch is not reimbursable and the student must pay according to a la carte pricing.

• Every effort should be made at the point of service to encourage the student to take an additional component.

• Staff counting and claiming must be trained to recognize meal components to include those in combination foods.

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Corn Dog=1 oz Meat1.5 serv GB

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OVS Reimbursable Breakfasts

•General requirements for OVS at breakfast (optional at all grade levels).

•Schools must:• offer at least the minimum servings

sizes of all 4 food items from 3 or 4 food components.

• price breakfast as a unit.

OVS Reimbursable Breakfasts

• Students must:

• select at least 3 food items.

• take full servings to count toward a reimbursable meal.

• Students may:

• decline any food item, including the milk.

• take a smaller portion of the declined food item.

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Menu Planning Options

• Breakfast OVS rules for Enhanced Food Based Menu Planning are the same as Traditional Food Based.

• There is an option in enhanced food based menu plan for the grade group 7-12 to offer one additional serving of grains/breads per day.

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NuMenus OVS

• NuMenus

• Minimum of three menu items must be offered

• Must select at least two items

• Decline a maximum of one item

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OVS Key Advantages

• Policy for extra portions at extra cost is unaffected by OVS.

• Reducing plate waste can reduce the cost of the program.

• Students:• select foods making it more likely

they will eat the food.• may refuse any food item.• may take any combination.• are encouraged to take complete

meals.

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INFORMATION FOR FOOD-BASED MENU PLANNING

• Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

• http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/foodbuyingguide.html

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Contact MDE School Nutrition Programs at:

Phone: 517-373-3347

or

E-mail:

MDE-SchoolNutrition@michigan.gov