Nutrition Services

The Nutrition Services Department is excited to share that the State of California has committed to continue serving free meals to all students on campus this upcoming school year. Therefore, ALL students will receive free meals throughout the 2024-25 school year. 

Please note that Nutrition Services will continue to charge students full-price for an additional second meal or for a la carte items. Check your student’s school schedule for serving times. Breakfast is served during morning recess at elementary schools and during the first break at secondary schools. Breakfast is also served before school at high schools.

Nutrition Services Data Confirmation Information Packet for Parents

SUMMER 2024 Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Update

CLICK HERE for information on Summer 2024 P-EBT Benefits and Timeline.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

 

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CalFresh

If you could use some extra help putting food on the table for your kids, you’re not alone. Because of the pandemic, a family of four can receive more than $700 every month to purchase food from CalFresh. CalFresh is safe to use for you and your family. Accessing CalFresh will not affect your immigration status! Learn about how CalFresh can help your family. Visit: www.GetCalFresh.org or www.BenefitsCal.com.

Families Forward

If families need food assistance, Families Forward offers a drive-thru food pantry Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., located at 8 Thomas Drive in Irvine. The drive-thru stations provide non-perishable items to families each week. No appointment is needed, but you must be registered to receive food. Visit Families Forward for more information.

Families Forward also offers counseling services, housing programs, career services and more. 

Additional Long-Term Food Assistance and Community Resources

Second Harvest Food Bank

Tustin Family & Youth Center Food Programs offered in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of OC

211 OC – Is a resource center to link families to a variety of Orange County services, including food, the CalFresh program, housing, military and veteran services, and more.

How You Can Help

If you are able, please consider donating non-perishable items to Families Forward. These items can be delivered to their pantry Monday through Thursday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Below is a list of most needed items.

  • Cereal
  • Rice (1lb and 2lb bags)
  • Canned soups, fruits, beans
  • Peanut butter (12 oz or 16 oz)
  • Canned veggies, pasta, tuna, chicken
  • mac n cheese
  • pasta (dry) and pasta sauce
  • Diapers (size 3 and up)
  • Baby wipes
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kids eat free

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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Free & Reduced Price Meals

Free & Reduced Price Meal Program All students on campus will receive free meals this school year. If a family feels that their income may qualify their students for the Federal Free or Reduced Price Meal Program in order to receive additional benefits for the current school year, parent are encouraged to follow the following steps: Register for a free account at LINQConnect.com.  Parents who have a Titan Family Portal account will be able to use their Titan username and password. Add your students to your account by clicking the "+" in the "Linked Accounts" section in the top right corner. Under "Quick Links," click on "Meal Applications." Search for Irvine Unified School District and click "Next" to begin your application. If approved, this application may qualify families for discounted college application fees, discounted Advanced Placement (AP) test fees, discounted school events, and discounted utilities through gas, electricity, internet, and phone providers.  These applications also benefit schools by providing increased funding through the Local Control Funding Formula, including funding for support staff, computers and other technology. Parents may also download a PDF of our paper application as an alternative to the online application.  Please print the PDF application below, complete, and submit the original to your student's cafeteria, school office, or the Nutrition Services Office.  By law, we are not able to process faxed or emailed copies, we may only accept originals for the current school year.   2024-25 Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application Frequently Asked Questions Can I just use a copy of last year's paper application and write my current information on it? Applications from prior school years cannot legally be used for the current school year. Is every student required to have an application on file in order to receive free meals?No. Students do not not need to have an application on file in order to receive one free breakfast meal and one free lunch meal per day.  While meals are free for all students in the state of California, if a family feels that their income might qualify their student(s) for the Federal Free or Reduced-Price Meal Program AND they have not already received a letter notifying them that their student(s) have automatically qualified for free meals for this school year, they are encouraged to apply for free and reduced price meals.   Where can I find an application?Our online application is now available.  If parents are unable to complete an online application, paper copies of the current application will be available in our Nutrition Services Office, all cafeterias, and at each school office.  I have children attending different schools in IUSD; do I need to fill out a different application for each of them?One application per household may be filled out, whether or not the children are at different schools in the district. We are moving to IUSD from another district and were approved for Free Meals there, do I need to fill out another application?Applications from other districts are non-transferrable. A new application must be filled out upon entering IUSD. Our family has been on the Reduced Program every year, why do we have to reapply?Due to eligibility guidelines that change annually, a new application must be filled out for each household every school year.   SCHOOL BREAKFAST MEALS all Irvine Unified schools are participating in the School Breakfast Program.  Please check your school's schedule for serving times. What are the nutrition requirements for school breakfasts? School breakfasts must meet the applicable recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which recommends that no more than 30 percent of an individual's calories come from fat, and less than 10 percent from saturated fat.  In addition, breakfasts must provide one-fourth of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and calories.  The decisions about what specific food to serve and how they are prepared are made by our district Nutritionist and Director of Nutrition Services. How do children qualify for free or reduced price breakfasts?Any child attending school may purchase a meal through the School Breakfast Program. All students on campus are eligible to receive one free breakfast meal per day.  What is included in a school breakfast meal?A breakfast meal includes a grain, milk, and a fruit. In order for a student's breakfast to be counted as a free, reduced price, or complete meal, they must take at least a grain item and must take a fruit. Please see our breakfast menu to see what items are included in a meal. When is breakfast served at my student's school? Breakfast meals are served during recess or snack break at elementary and middle schools.Breakfast meals are served before school and during snack break at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, and at the High School level.   Earned Income Tax Credit Information Act Based on your annual earnings, you may be eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit from the Federal Government (Federal EITC). The Federal EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. The Federal EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, Federal EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, low-income housing, or most Temporary Assistance For Needy Families payments. Even if you do not owe federal taxes, you must file a federal tax return to receive the Federal EITC. Be sure to fill out the Federal EITC form in the Federal Income Tax Return Booklet. For information regarding your eligibility to receive the Federal EITC, including information on how to obtain the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice 797 or any other necessary forms and instructions, contact the IRS by calling 1-800-829-3676 or through its Web site at www.irs.gov. You may also be eligible to receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit (California EITC) starting with the calendar year 2015 tax year. The California EITC is a refundable state income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. The California EITC is treated in the same manner as the Federal EITC and generally will not be used to determine eligibility for welfare benefits under California law. To claim the California EITC, even if you do not owe California taxes, you must file a California income tax return and complete and attach the California EITC Form (FTB 3514). For information on the availability of the credit eligibility requirements and how to obtain the necessary California forms and get help filing, contact the Franchise Tax Board at 1-800-852-5711 or through its Web site at www.ftb.ca.gov.
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Menus

Find menus for all school levels
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Payment Methods

Payments may be made to students' accounts using the following methods
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Catering

Nutrition Services is proud to offer catering services throughout the district.
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USDA STATEMENT

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S.
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Contact Nutrition Services