The Breakfast and Lunch Program

It is the goal of School Nutrition Services (SNS) to provide a healthy and nutritious breakfast and lunch daily, while allowing students to choose from the foods they enjoy eating. Menus for each grade level are posted to the CMS website each month.

If you have questions or concerns about our programs, please feel free to call School Nutrition Services weekdays from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm at (980) 343-6041 or visit the School Nutrition department page at cmsk12.org.

2023-2024 Meal Prices

Students attending eligible CEP schools receive breakfast and lunch at no charge.

Extra Items

All cafeterias offer a variety of snacks and beverages as extra items. These foods are offered in addition to, not in place of, the regular menu at an additional cost. All food items offered are in compliance with USDA Smart Snacks regulations and are restricted in fat, sugar, sodium, trans fat and calories. Students must have cash or funds available on their account to purchase these items. No credit will be extended.

Special Nutritional Needs

CMS School Nutrition is committed to serving your child a nutritious meal each day. We recognize that some students have special dietary needs due to a medical reason, such as allergy, intolerance or therapeutic diet. A current CMS Diet Order form is available on the CMS website or may be obtained from the school cafeteria manager or school nurse. The Diet Order form will remain on file in the cafeteria computer system until we receive a parent/guardian request that the restriction is to be removed.

Periodically, School Nutrition will send out a letter to all students with a current diet order in our system asking if there have been any changes to the student’s restrictions. If there are no changes, there would be no need to submit another Diet Order form. Incomplete Diet Order forms cannot be processed and will be returned to the parent/guardian for completion. Upon receipt of each completed form, School Nutrition will modify menus and instruct cafeteria managers in regards to each special diet.

A registered dietitian on staff supervises the management of all special nutritional needs. Parents are encouraged to review appropriate food choices from the menu with their child. Families desiring to manage diabetes, food allergies, etc., without submitting a Diet Order form, may view information regarding nutrition, carbohydrate content and major food allergens from our interactive menu application called Nutrislice.

CMS School Nutrition does not purchase or serve peanuts or tree nuts or products containing peanuts or tree nuts; therefore, a Diet Order form only specifying a peanut or tree nut allergy is not required.

View Your Digital Menus with Nutrislice

School Nutrition Services uses Nutrislice to display digital menus for all grade levels. You can easily view information about what is on the menu each day and see an image and description of food items, as well as nutritional and allergen information. Our innovative and interactive site and mobile app make our menus more convenient and informative than ever before! Access any Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools’ menu on a desktop or mobile browser at http://cms.nutrislice.com or get the Nutrislice App on your mobile device in 3 easy steps:

1. Download the Nutrislice App (from Apple or Android App stores)
2. Open Nutrislice App - Search for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools - NC
3. Find your school name in Nutrislice to view specific menus

Special Promotions

Many of our school cafeterias plan special events and promotions to make meal time fun and to encourage students to eat healthy meals. Some of our events include Welcome Back to School, National School Lunch Week (October), and National Nutrition Month and National School Breakfast Week (March).

It is the policy of School Nutrition Services that promotions are designed to include all children. The purchase of a meal is not necessary to participate in any promotion.

Community Eligibility Provision Schools (CEP)

CMS is approved to participate in a program called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Schools that participate in the CEP are able to provide healthy breakfasts and lunches each day at “no charge” for ALL students enrolled in the CEP school. Visit the CMS website to view a list of eligible CEP schools. If your children attend one of the CEP schools they will be included in this program

• You do NOT complete a meal application if all of your school-aged children attend a CEP participating CMS school.
• You DO have to complete a meal application if you have school-aged children in your household that attend a CMS school that is not CEP.
• At the beginning of the new school year or during the school year, if a student moves from a CEP school to a school that is not CEP the parent must complete a meal application within 30 days to be considered for meal benefits. Students will need to have money for meals if an approved meal application is not on file.

An application can be completed online by visiting the School Nutrition Services department on the CMS website cmsk12.org. A paper version of the application can be downloaded from the website and can also be obtained by contacting your child’s school or the School Nutrition Department at (980) 343-6041. Please do not hesitate to contact our office if we can assist you further.

Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications

The meal application is a family application. Only one application needs to be completed for each household. Apply online for free or reduced-priced lunch by visiting our website or you may obtain a paper application from your child’s school. If you are completing a paper application, please mail to Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, School Nutrition Services, PO Box 668847, Charlotte, NC 28266-8847.

Students who were approved for benefits last year will continue receiving lunch under last year’s approval until a new application is processed. Students have up to 30 days to reapply for meal benefits. Students who do not reapply for the current school year will need money for meals beginning the 31st school day. New students must have an approved application on file before meal benefits begin. At the beginning of a new school year, if a student moves from a CEP school to a school that is not CEP the parent must complete a meal application within 30 days to be considered for meal benefits. Students will need to have money for lunch if an approved meal application is not on file.

Pre-K, elementary and middle school students who do not have an approved application on file and do not have money in their account will receive a complete meal. The price of the meal will be charged to the student’s account. Students will be asked to return any extra items on their tray to the cashier. The student’s parent/guardian is responsible for reimbursing the cafeteria for any money charged to the student’s account, even if an application is approved at a later date. High school students are not allowed to go into the negative to purchase any food items. There is a “no charge” policy in high schools.

The parent/guardian is responsible for ensuring their child has an approved application on file. If a letter detailing the status of the meal application is not received within 10 working days after the application is submitted, call (980) 343-6041 to inquire about the status of your application.

Student Meal Account Information

All students have their own account and are provided a blue card on the first day of school with their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and barcode.

Students will need to enter their PIN or scan their barcode card when receiving breakfast, lunch or purchasing additional items from the cafeteria. CMS student ID badges with barcodes work and are recommended. High school students can also scan a QR code in the cafeteria to obtain their barcode on their phone.

Meal Payment Options

School Nutrition Services will accept payment for purchases in the cafeteria by cash, personal check, money order, cashier’s check at the school or online (credit/debit card.) Money can be placed in the student’s account at any time.

Online Meal Payment Service

Parents may pay for school meals using Visa, MasterCard or Discover by logging onto www.paypams.com. This requires a one-time registration process. Once you register, you will use the same login and password throughout your child’s school years or until you discontinue the service. There is no charge to the parent for using this service.

Check Acceptance Policy

School Nutrition Services will gladly accept checks for the amount of purchase or for prepayment under these conditions:

• Checks are to be made payable to the school’s cafeteria
• A phone and driver’s license number must be included on the check
• Include the student(s) name along with their student ID or PIN number

Returned Check Penalties

School Nutrition Services uses Checkredi to collect funds from checks returned for insufficient funds. Once the check has been returned, Checkredi will resubmit the check electronically (twice if necessary) to your bank. There will be a $25 charge for returned checks. Contact Checkredi at 1-866-433-7334 if you have any questions regarding a returned check. The use of a check is your acceptance of these conditions.

Purchase Adjustments/30-Day Limit

School Nutrition Services offers an online service, at no charge, to give parents access to the activity on their child’s lunch account. The online service can be accessed daily to check balances and purchases made by students. Parents have the option to make payments through this service, but this is an option and is not required in order to view activity on the account. The parent/guardian has 30 days from the date a purchase is posted to dispute questionable charges to the account. Lunch activity may be obtained by creating an online account at www.paypams.com.

Refunds on Closed Accounts

Parents of students leaving CMS have up to 90 days to request a refund of money on account or have it transferred to another CMS student.

Amounts less than $5 will be transferred (upon request) to another CMS student account but not refunded. Contact School Nutrition Services at (980) 343-6041 for a refund or transfer of money on account.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

To view the complete USDA Non-Discrimination Statement use the link below: https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights/usda-nondiscrimination-statement-other-fns-programs

Guidelines for Foods in the Classroom

Foods have played an important role in the classroom over the years in areas of nutrition and science education, celebrations, rewards and in many other ways. Recent changes in society and our environment necessitate that we use foods in the classroom with a measure of caution. Increases in food-borne pathogens that can cause severe illness, the threat of bioterrorism and a great increase in the number of children with potentially lethal food allergies dictate that care be taken with foods brought from home and eaten in school. A policy, “Students with Food Allergies,” was adopted in April 2005 to address these concerns. In addition, the following cautions are to be followed in all schools in order to protect the health and safety of children and staff:

1. Any food shared in school must be from an inspected commercial facility and must be labeled with its contents. (e.g., Harris Teeter cupcakes with a printed list of ingredients from the HT bakery, packaged crackers, etc.)
2. Fresh fruit and vegetables may be shared, but must be thoroughly washed with friction under running water or in a fruit cleaner. Fruits and vegetables which grow on the ground (melons) should also be washed thoroughly to prevent contamination when cutting. Utensils used for cutting or serving should be thoroughly washed and dried between uses. Avoid reusing a knife that has been used to cut sandwiches with cheese or meat. Cross contamination could lead to allergic reactions or food poisoning. 
3. Products such as milk, cheese or fruit juice, which have not been pasteurized, may not be shared in the classroom or at school activities.
4. The special diet and healthcare needs of all students should be addressed in a confidential and supportive manner by all staff.
5. Peanut-free or other allergen-free tables should be designated for children diagnosed with severe airborne or contact allergies to those substances in the classroom and other learning environments where food products may be used. When such an area is designated, a child or staff member (not the child with the allergy) must clean the designated table with previously unused paper towels, soapy water and dry with a clean paper towel. That table must remain free of the allergen at all times. Cleaning should take place before each use.
6. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide information regarding a food allergy to the teacher, the school nurse and School Nutrition Services. The school nurse will draft an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) with the parent and will educate staff about the special needs of the child with severe food allergies, after the parent has signed the EAP.
7. Foods brought to school to be shared should be checked for content. No foods with known allergens should be given to children who have previously been identified as having an allergy to any of its contents. When there is a doubt, the food should not be given unless the parent states it is safe for the child. Parents may supply “safe” alternatives and request that their child avoid handling any other food products.
8. A student with high risk allergy that cannot be avoided in the cafeteria may be allowed to remain in the classroom with adult supervision while the other members of the class go to the cafeteria or the whole class may eat in the room, provided no allergens are brought into the classroom. Such special accommodations, as well as any additional safeguards required for an individual student, should be made in collaboration with school administrators, the school nurse and School Nutrition Services. When appropriate a 504 plan will be developed by the team. Other ways to protect a student with a life-threatening food allergy are found in the new CMS regulation “Students with Food Allergies.”
9. Riders on school buses, including the driver, must refrain from eating on the bus as a safeguard against choking and against allergic reactions of students with food allergies. It is important to note that deadly allergic reactions can be triggered by food particles in the air.
10. Whenever foods are brought to school for snacks or celebrations, choices that are low in sugar and fat content should be considered.

The following are some healthy snack suggestions:

• Pretzels
• Graham crackers, vanilla wafers, ginger snaps
• Carrot sticks
• Dried fruit
• Apple or banana slices
• Small pizza bagels
• Fruit yogurt

Safe and healthy nutrition needs to be taught by example in school and at home. Help all children be healthy and ready to learn.

In April 2005 the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education passed a groundbreaking policy that proactively addresses the needs of the growing population of CMS students who have been identified as having life-threatening allergies to certain foods. The policy requires schools to make reasonable efforts to protect the health of children for whom contact with or ingestion of certain foods can be fatal, while not attempting to create school environments that are guaranteed to be free from the risk of contact with lethal allergens.

The regulation, which was approved by the superintendent, goes into more detail on the measures that are to be used to minimize the risk to these children

Policy S-FOOD: Students with Food Allergies The Board of Education recognizes the increasing frequency and intensity of allergic reactions to foods by certain students and the impact these reactions may have on all children in the educational environment. Therefore, CMS will:

• Make every reasonable effort to promote and protect the health of children in school by providing food choices that are safe as well as nutritious;
• Provide environments that reduce the risk of ingestion or contact with foods that trigger allergic reactions for students with known life threatening food allergies
• Develop prevention and management educational materials and make them widely available to CMS staff, students and parents

The superintendent will adopt regulations setting forth a detailed plan for how the District will accomplish the above objectives that shall include information regarding the development of appropriate accommodations or healthcare plans for individual students with life threatening allergies to foods.

Regulation S-FOOD/R
Pursuant to the following guidelines and plans, the District will address the increasing frequency and intensity of allergic reactions to foods by certain students and the impact these reactions may have on all students in the educational environment.

General Guidelines

1. Educational information that is made available to CMS staff regarding the prevention and management of allergic reactions to food.
2. Information regarding the prevention and management of allergic reactions to food shall be made available to CMS students and their parents through the Parent-Student Handbook and by other means, such as principal newsletters and Parent Teacher Student Association communications.
3. The District makes all reasonable efforts to no longer purchase or use products containing peanuts for the preparation of food in school cafeterias. Further, the District makes its best efforts to purchase only products prepared in peanut-free environments for use in preparing food in school cafeterias.
4. Principals prohibit the sale of peanut products in vending machines in schools

Plans for Students with Life-Threatening Allergies to Foods

CMS recognizes that it is not possible for the District to totally eliminate the risk of exposure of students with life-threatening allergies (“identified students”) to foods that trigger allergic reactions. However, the District takes seriously its responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect the safety of its students. Therefore, in an effort to identify students with life-threatening allergies to foods, initiate safety precautions to avoid allergic reactions by these students and prepare school staffs to deal with such allergic reactions should they occur, CMS adopts the following guidelines:

1. Parents of a student with a life-threatening allergy to a food must provide the school principal and the school nurse with documentation from a licensed healthcare provider describing the specific allergic condition of the child.
2. After receiving the required documentation, the school shall work with the parents of the identified student to develop a plan to minimize the specific risks to the student. Schools should also work with the parents to develop an emergency healthcare plan for use in the event of an allergic reaction by the identified student. Staff should work in partnership with the parent to develop this plan. Staff may include, but are not limited to, the principal, school nurse, the student’s teacher, the After School Enrichment site coordinator and the cafeteria manager.
3. A health care plan may be developed to address various ways to limit the identified student’s exposure to food(s) containing the specific allergen. While not exhaustive, following are examples of provisions that may be considered for inclusion in a healthcare plan. (This list is intended to be illustrative; only the provisions that are appropriate should be included in the healthcare plan and other accommodations should be added, as necessary. Each healthcare plan must be tailored to the needs of the individual identified student.):
   1. A special diet developed by School Nutrition Services
   2. In elementary schools, the requirement that the identified student’s teacher supervise all students in the class in washing their hands before and after eating
   3. The provision of information to the identified student’s classmates and their parents regarding the dangers presented by the inclusion of foods containing the identified allergen in lunches brought to school
   4. The provision of separate art supplies for the identified student
   5. Designation of a specific computer keyboard and monitor that the identified student is to use only after it has been thoroughly cleaned
   6. Strict enforcement of CMS rules requiring that only commercially-prepared foods with complete ingredient labels are to be sent to school by parents for students to share during classroom events
   7. Restrictions on the kinds of tasks assigned to the identified student (such as cleaning off tables in the classroom or the cafeteria)
   8. In elementary schools, storing the lunch boxes of classmates of the identified student’s class outside of the classroom
   9. Distributing the identified student’s photograph to school staff designated by the principal and explaining the allergic condition to them
4. The development and implementation of a health plan shall be carried out in a supportive manner that protects student confidentiality. Students may be eligible for protection under a 504 Plan. Parents should consult the 504 coordinator at the school for more information.
5. Schools at which there is an identified student(s) will provide a table in the cafeteria that is to be kept free of the types of allergen(s) that impact the identified student(s) (e.g. a “nut free” table). While this table shall be available to the identified student(s), they shall not be required to eat only at this table.
6. Principals should make reasonable efforts to assure that all school staff who have substantial direct contact with an identified student are made aware of the student’s emergency healthcare plan and are trained to recognize the symptoms of and respond to an allergic reaction.
7. Should an identified student be suspected of having an allergic reaction, all staff who have been trained to perform first aid or a life-saving technique are authorized to provide treatment according to the student’s emergency healthcare plan. Staff must also call 911 and contact the student’s parent(s).
   1. Throughout this regulation, references to “parent” or “parents” include one or both parents, the legal guardian or legal custodian of a student.