Food Service

Tips for packing a cold lunch:

• Try using a thermos to keep milk cold
• Use ice packs to keep protein items at a safe temperature until lunchtime
• Lunch boxes/bags should be cleaned at least once per week to help stop bacteria growth

National school meal programs (breakfast and lunch) are intended to be self-sustaining, so the Oregon School District Food Service Program generates revenue through sales of food items to students and staff, and does not receive taxpayer funding support.

Please read through the OSD School Lunch Policies and Guidelines for information regarding our unpaid meal charge policy. 

Healthy meals help children learn and the Oregon School District is proud to offer our students two healthy meals every school day.

You may apply for Free or Reduced Price meals ANY TIME during the school year, and you may re-apply if your application was denied OR if your situation changes and you need assistance now, but did not need it earlier in the year. If you have questions, please contact our School Nutrition Department at 608-835-4036 or OSDMeals@oregonsd.org.

A new application must be completed yearly, as the benefit is only active for one year (with a short carry over period at the beginning of the next school year). 

We are required to meet certain standards for school lunches in order to be approved for funding by the USDA. While we must offer specific food items every day, we also have to meet the needs of our students. We believe that no matter how nutritionally balanced the meal, it won't do any good if our students won't eat it! For that reason, we strive to balance student requests and federal requirements.

Menu Planning

Our menus provide the following:

• One-third (1/3) of the daily calories needed for school-age children.
• A little more than 30 percent of calories from fat.
• Guideline amounts of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins A and C, calcium and iron.

Our menus are planned using components and portion sizes specified by USDA. 

Examples:

• For K-4th grades, we offer 1-1/2 -2 ounces protein, 3/4 cup vegetable, 3/4 cup fruit, 1-2 ounces grain, and 8 ounces milk every day. 
• For 5th-8th grades, there are larger servings of protein, vegetables or fruits
• For 9th-12th grades, we offer more protein, whole grains, fruits and veggies. 

For all, we follow “offer vs. serve” guidelines, which means students are allowed to decline up to two of the five items offered at lunch.  While we strongly encourage students to take something from all five components, we never force children to take or eat anything they do not want. 

Per Federal regulations, a complete meal has at least three items; two (or more) items are the student's choice and one item must be at least 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetable, chosen from our daily variety.  We encourage children to make healthy choices from the options given them, and believe that when they make the choice, they will eat.      

We also offer all students (from K-12th grade) choices every day. While this may seem like a lot for younger students, we believe the best way to learn how to make good choices is to be allowed to make them at an early age.  Each day students have a choice from the following:

• Two to six entrees (depending on the grade)
• Two vegetables
• One canned fruit
• Three to five fresh fruits
• Skim, 1% white, or 1% chocolate milk. 

We try to offer a variety of foods that will appeal to many different ages and tastes.  We have found that most children have already developed their food preferences by the time they attend school.  Some are willing to try something new, others are not.  It takes about 15 times of trying a new food before people realize they like something new.  If students recognize something at school that they eat at home, they are more willing to try it at school. 

We are happy to provide alternative meal options for those with documented intolerances and/or allergies. To provide an accommodation, we must receive a note signed from a physician. Please use the forms on the Right side of this page. Reach out to our School Nutrition Department at OSDMeals@oregonsd.org or 608-835-4057 for any questions or to set up an alternative menu for your student.

If your child has food allergies or lactose intolerance, please have this form completed by your physician.

• Physician Form - English
• Physician form - Spanish

The Oregon School District will be offering breakfast and lunch to students during summer school (7/8 - 7/31) to help busy families and provide healthy meal choices for children. Meals will be provided at Oregon High School, the main summer school course building. Summer school transportation will accommodate time for breakfast and lunch.  Please complete this form if you plan on eating this summer to help us plan for food quantities. Please contact osdmeals@oregonsd.org or 608-835-4036 with any questions related to the summer meal program.  

Summer Semester Meals Prices

Breakfast:  $2.00

• Served 7:45 - 8:00 AM, July 8-31
• 1% white or skim chocolate milk offered with each meal

Lunch:  $3.40

• Served 12:15 - 12:30 PM, July 8-31
• 1% white or skim chocolate milk offered with each meal

Students who qualified for free or reduced meal prices during the 2023-2024 school year will be eligible for the same free or reduced prices this summer.

Summer breakfast and lunch menus will be published here when available.