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Sample Lunch Menus

The following five weeks of menus include ideas for cold lunches. Portion sizes (indicated in parentheses after each menu item) are for ages 6-18 and can be adjusted for ages 1-5 (with approval from the state office of Child Nutrition Programs). Keep in mind that the minimum serving sizes specified in the meal pattern may not be sufficient for older children, and additional items or increased serving sizes may be appropriate. The Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs should be used to determine specific amounts of food items which meet the minimum required serving size of each meal pattern component.

These sample menus focus on increasing variety and acceptability by featuring:

· a variety of non-sandwich meals, including traditional “hot” menu items served cold

· a variety of bread items

· chocolate milk

· vegetables and salad dressing dip

· “Munchables”, similar to the prepackaged lunches available in supermarkets

· smaller fruit items (such as orange segments, raisins, pineapple tidbits) which might appeal more to younger children

The abbreviation to the left of each menu item indicates the meal pattern component supplied. The following abbreviations are used: GB = Grains/Breads; MA = Meat/Meat Alternate; FV = Fruit/Vegetable; M = Milk; O = Other Food (noncreditable); A = Additional Items (creditable foods served in addition to the minimum required components).

NOTE: The use of brand name products does not constitute approval or endorsement by Child Nutrition Programs. Product names are used solely for clarification regarding serving sizes.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Turkey Ham (1½ oz) & Meunster Cheese (½ oz) with Lettuce/Tomato (¼ cup)

White Bread¹ (2 slices)

Mustard or Lowfat Mayonnaise (½ oz)

Orange (1 medium)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

FV

Chicken Salad (2.5 oz)

Roll¹ (2 oz)

Red Delicious Apple (1 medium)

Cucumber & Carrot Slices (½ cup) with

Lowfat Ranch Dip (2 Tbsp)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Peanut Butter (4 Tbsp) & Jelly (1 Tbsp)

Graham Crackers^1,2 (4 lge)

Banana (1 medium)

Apple Juice (½ cup)

Lowfat Milk (1 cup)

Pastrami (1½ oz) and Swiss (½ oz) on Rye¹ (2 slices)

Potato Chips (1 oz)

Coleslaw (½ cup)

Fruit salad (½ cup)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Munchables: Tuna Salad (2.5 oz) with Crackers^1,2

Raw Veggies (½ cup broccoli, carrot, zucchini) and Dip (¼ cup)

Orange Juice (½ cup)

Lowfat (1%) White Milk

Turkey (2 oz) on

Wheat Bread¹ (2 slices) with Mustard or Lowfat Mayonnaise (½ oz)

Potato salad (½ cup)

Cantaloupe Wedges (½ cup)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Taco Salad: Tortilla Shell (2 oz) with Beef (1 oz) & Cheese (1 oz)

Salsa (¼ cup)

Lettuce, shredded (1 cup

Tomato, diced (¼ cup)

Pineapple Chunks (½ cup)

Lowfat Milk (1 cup)

Munchables: Ham (1 oz) & Lowfat Swiss Cheese (1 oz)

Ritz Crackers^1,2 (7)

Celery Sticks (½ cup)

Lowfat Ranch Dip (2 Tbsp)

Plums (2 medium)

Lowfat Milk (1 cup)

Chicken Roll (2 oz) on

Wheat Bread¹ (2 slices) with Mustard or Lowfat Mayonnaise (½ oz)

Salad (½ cup)

Lowfat Italian Dressing (2 Tbsp)

Orange Segments (½ cup)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Tuna Salad (2.5 oz) on

Pita Bread¹ (2 oz)

Carrot Sticks (½ cup)

Lowfat Ranch Dip (2 Tbsp)

Pear (1 medium)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Sample Cold Lunch Menus for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Continued

Cheese Pizza (2 oz. cheese, 2 oz. crust¹), served cold or hot

Garden Salad (½ cup)

Lowfat Italian Dressing (2 Tbsp)

Orange Segments (½ cup)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Munchables: American Cheese (1 oz) and Turkey (1 oz) with Triscuits^1,2 (5)

Carrot Sticks (½ cup)

Lowfat Ranch Dip (¼ cup)

Grape Juice (½ cup)

Lowfat White Milk

Peanut Butter (2 Tbsp) & Jelly (1 Tbsp) on

White Bread¹

Yogurt (½ cup)

Raisins (¼ cup)

Banana (1 medium)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

MAFV

Nacho Chips¹ (1 oz) with

Shredded Cheese (2 oz) &

Salsa (½ cup)

Granny Smith Apple (1 medium)

Lowfat Milk (1 cup)

Chocolate Pudding (½ cup)

Salami (1½ oz) & American Cheese (½ oz) with Lettuce/Tomato (¼ cup)

Mustard or Lowfat Mayonnaise (½ oz)

Grinder Roll¹ (2 oz.)

Grapes (½ cup)

Lowfat Milk (1 cup)

Chef’s Salad: Turkey (1 oz), ham (½ oz), cheddar cheese (½ oz)

Lettuce (1 cup)

Tomatoes (¼ cup)

Sliced kiwi (¼ cup)

Saltines^1,2 (8)

Lowfat Milk (1 cup)

Cold Chicken Fingers (2 oz meat) with Honey or BBQ Dipping sauce (¼ cup)

Wheat Roll¹ (2 oz)

Cucumber and Carrot Slices (½ cup)

Peach (1 medium)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Roast Beef ( 2 oz) on Grinder Roll¹ ( 2 oz)

Ketchup, Mustard or Lowfat Mayonnaise (½ oz)

Pasta (½ cup) Veggie (¼ cup) Salad

Strawberries (½ cup)

Lowfat Milk (1 cup)

Turkey (1½ oz) & Cheese (½ oz) Wrap (soft tortilla shell¹ 1½oz)

Lettuce & Tomato (¼ cup)

Watermelon (½ cup)

Lowfat Milk (1 cup)

Pepperoni Pizza (2 oz. cheese & meat, 2 oz. crust¹), served cold or hot

Salad Greens (3/4 cup)

Lowfat Ranch Dressing (2 Tbsp)

Raisins (¼ cup)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Cold Fried Chicken (2 oz meat)

Corn Bread^1,3

Carrot Raisin Salad (½ cup)

Green Pepper Strips (¼ cup) with Lowfat Ranch Dip (2 Tbsp)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Munchables: Peanut Butter (2 Tbsp) and Monterey Jack Cheese (1 oz)

Rice Cakes^1,2 (3)

Raisins (¼ cup)

Applesauce (½ cup)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

Meatloaf (2 oz) and Cheese (1/2 oz) on a Hard Roll

Ketchup or Mustard (½ oz)

Pretzels Sticks (1 oz)

Confetti Coleslaw (½ cup)

Fruit Salad (½ cup)

Lowfat milk (1 cup)

Yogurt (½ cup)

Melon Cubes (½ cup)

Green & Red Grapes (½ cup)

Mild Cheddar Cheese (1 oz)

Wheat Thins^1,2 (12)

Blueberry Muffin (2 oz)

Lowfat Choc. Milk (1 cup)

English Muffin Pizza: Shredded Mozzarella (2 oz) and Pizza Sauce (¼ cup), served hot or cold

Cucumber and Tomato Salad (½ cup)

Banana (1 medium)

Lowfat milk (1 cup)

¹For all purchased grains/breads, a serving must meet the minimum weights specified in “Exhibit A: Serving Sizes for Grains/Breads in the Child Nutrition Programs”.

²To be creditable, crackers (including pretzels, rice cakes and breadsticks) must contain enriched or whole-grain flour and/or bran or germ. The appropriate serving size for specific types and brands of crackers is indicated in the product lists found in Child Nutrition Programs’ Policy for Crediting Cookies, Crackers and Cereals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. If a particular brand or type of cracker is not found on the list, whether the product is creditable and the appropriate serving size can be determined using the “Worksheet for Crediting Purchased Grains/Breads”.

³For products made from scratch, serving sizes are based on the grains and/or cereal content of the recipe. To count as a serving of grains/breads, recipes for homemade products must contain a sufficient amount of flours (including bran and germ) and/or cereals to meet the minimum required amount per serving of the item. This information can be determined by using the worksheet “Determining the Grains/Breads Servings in a Recipe”.

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Division of Nutrition & Health Services
2545 Lawrenceburg Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-5625
Fax: (502) 564-5519
E-mail NHS

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