New York City Public Schools Lunch Menu and Meal Programs
In the heart of New York City, the NYC Public Schools stands as a colossal educational system, not just in size but in its profound commitment to nourishing the minds and bodies of its students. The New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) takes immense pride in its comprehensive food and nutrition services, ensuring every child in the city has access to healthy, delicious, and nurturing meals.
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Nutrition in New York City Public Schools
The NYC DOE offers a remarkable program of free breakfast, lunch, and after-school meals to all students, embodying a commitment to equity and health. This initiative is a vital component of the district’s mission, reflecting their aim to serve NYC students with meals that not only satisfy hunger but also enhance their educational experience and support them into adulthood.
Child Nutrition Excellence in NYC DOE
At the core of NYC Public Schools’ nutritional program is a dedicated team committed to serving the healthiest choices with the freshest ingredients. With a striking 99.8 percent average for health department scores, the district demonstrates its adherence to stringent nutritional standards. NYC Public Schools has developed a comprehensive wellness policy, reinforced by their participation in “Team Nutrition Schools” and the “Healthier US” Challenge, showcasing their commitment to student health beyond the cafeteria.
New York City Public Schools Lunch Menus
NYC Public Schools’ lunch menus are crafted with meticulous attention to dietary guidelines, ensuring a balance of nutrients essential for student growth and learning. The menus are evaluated through a USDA-certified nutritional database, considering various nutritional aspects to cater to the diverse needs of its student population.
Daily Offerings
- Daily Lunch Specials
- Sandwiches:
- Peanut Butter & Jelly (VE)
- Cheese Sandwich (V)
- Hummus Grab & Go (V)
- Chickpea Wrap (V) [Available only on Monday and Friday]
- Tuna Sandwich [Available only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday]
- Milk Options:
- 1% Low Fat Milk (V)
- Fat Free Milk (V)
- Fat Free Chocolate Milk (V)
- Condiments:
- Ketchup (VE)
- Mustard (VE)
- Mayonnaise (V)
- BBQ Sauce (VE)
- Hot Sauce (V)
- Fresh Fruit: (VE)
- Dressings:
- Chipotle Ranch (V)
- Balsamic Vinaigrette (V)
- Ranch (V)
- Asian Sesame (VE)
- Honey Mustard (V)
- Caesar
- French (V)
- Italian Vinaigrette (V)
- Flavor Station:
- Granulated Garlic (VE)
- Red Pepper Flakes (VE)
- Parmesan Cheese (V)
Note: Options may vary by location.
NYC Schools Lunch Menu
December 2023
| Date | Day | Lunch Menu | Sides and Bars |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 12, 2023 | Tuesday | Fiesta Quesadilla (V) | Street Style Corn (V), Crispy Tortillas (VE) Served with Salsa (VE) and Guacamole (VE), Salad Bar, Spinach/ Tomato/ Red Pepper Salad (V) |
| December 13, 2023 | Wednesday | Crispy Chicken Bites With Dipping Sauce | Grab & Go Salad, Honey Butternut Squash (V), Garlic Knot (V), Salad Bar, Classic Potato Salad (V) |
| December 14, 2023 | Thursday | Caribbean Spiced Jerk Chicken Thigh* | Jollof Cauliflower (V)*, Dinner Roll (V), New York Cookie Treat (V), Salad Bar, Carrot Raisin Salad (V) |
| December 15, 2023 | Friday | Kidney Bean Rajma (VE) served with Naan (VE) | Kachumber Salad* (Spiced Cucumber and Tomato Salad) (VE), Veggie Nuggets (VE), Dipping Sauce, Heart Shaped Pretzels (VE), Salad Bar, Roasted Broccoli & Cauliflower (VE) |
| December 18, 2023 | Monday | Pizza by the Slice (V) | Kid Friendly Kale Salad (V), Salad Bar, Broccoli Salad (V) |
| December 19, 2023 | Tuesday | Veggie Burger (VE) Veggie Cheeseburger (V) | Whole Wheat Bun, Turkey Burger, Turkey Cheeseburger, Whole Wheat Bun, Sweet Potato Waffle Fries (VE), Baked Beans (VE), Salad Bar, Classic Toppings (V) |
| December 20, 2023 | Wednesday | Plastic Free Lunch Day | Red White and Green Panini (V), Caribbean Style Beef Patty, Baby Carrots (VE), Salad Bar, Veggie Dipper (VE) |
| December 21, 2023 | Thursday | International Roasted Chicken Drumsticks | Grab & Go Salad, Confetti Corn (VE), Buttermilk Biscuit (V), Salad Bar, Lemon Arugula Salad (V) |
| December 22, 2023 | Friday | Three Bean Chili (VE) with or without Cheese (V) | Seasoned Wedge Fries (VE), Honey Corn Bread (V), Crispy Tortillas (VE) Served with Salsa (VE), Southwest Burrito (V), Salad Bar, Fresh Tomato Salad (V) |
| December 25, 2023 | Monday (Winter Recess) | French Bread Pizza (V) | Garlicky Green Bean (VE), Salad Bar, Balsamic Chickpea Salad (V) |
| December 26, 2023 | Tuesday (Winter Recess) | Sesame Veggie Nuggets (VE) | Chicken Dumplings, Ginger Carrots (V), Pineapple Rice Medley (V)*, Salad Bar, Asian Red Cabbage Slaw (V) |
| December 27, 2023 | Wednesday (Winter Recess) | White Bean and Pasta Primavera (VE) | Mozzarella Sticks (V) with marinara sauce (VE), Crispy Broccoli (V), Salad Bar, Kale Caesar Salad (V) |
| December 28, 2023 | Thursday (Winter Recess) | BBQ Chicken Melt On Ciabatta Bread | Grab & Go Salad, Seasoned Wedge Fries (VE), Salad Bar, Marinated Bean Salad (VE) |
| December 29, 2023 | Friday (Winter Recess) | Roasted Adobo Chickpeas (VE)* | Sofrito Rice (VE)*, Fresh Cilantro Healthy Coleslaw (V), Sweet Plantains (VE), Southwest Burrito (V), New York Cookie Treat (V), Salad Bar, Mixed Greens Salad (V) |
January 2024
| Date | Day | Lunch Menu | Sides and Bars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | |||
| January 1, 2024 | Monday (Winter Recess) | Big City Bean Taco (VE) | Street Style Corn (V), Salad Bar, Fiesta Bar (With Black Bean Salad) |
| January 2, 2024 | Tuesday | Sicilian Slice Pizza (V) | Italian Green Beans (VE), Salad Bar, Welcome Back Bar |
| January 3, 2024 | Wednesday | Manicotti (V) in Marinara Sauce (V) | Mozzarella Sticks (V) with marinara sauce (VE), Roasted Zucchini (VE), Garlic Knot (V), Salad Bar, Pizza Bar |
| January 4, 2024 | Thursday | Moroccan Roasted Chicken Drumsticks | Jollof Cauliflower (V)*, Sweet Potato Wedge Fries (VE), Dinner Roll (V), Salad Bar, Rainbow Bar |
| January 5, 2024 | Friday | White Bean and Pasta Primavera (VE) | Three Cheese Grilled Cheese (V), Crispy Broccoli (V), Salad Bar, Leafy Green Salad Bar |
| Week 2 | |||
| January 8, 2024 | Monday | Pizza by the Slice (V) | Kid Friendly Kale Salad (V), Salad Bar, Pizza Bar (With Balsamic Chickpea Salad) |
| January 9, 2024 | Tuesday | Guisado Kidney Beans (VE)* | Sofrito Rice (VE)*, Grab & Go Salad, Roasted Cauliflower (VE) Served with Salsa (VE), Salad Bar, Leafy Green Salad Bar |
| January 10, 2024 | Wednesday | Plastic Free Lunch Day | Garlic and Tomato Panini (V), Caribbean Style Beef Patty, Baby Carrots (VE), Salad Bar, Plastic Free Lunch Bar |
| January 11, 2024 | Thursday | Caribbean Spiced Jerk Chicken Thighs* | Veggie Nuggets (VE), Dipping Sauce, Kelewele Plantains (VE)*, Buttermilk Biscuit (V), Salad Bar, Rainbow Bar |
| January 12, 2024 | Friday | Zesty Chickpea Stew (VE) | Southwest Burrito (V), Kachumber Salad (VE)*, Flatbread (VE), Salad Bar, Mediterranean Bar |
| Week 3 | |||
| January 15, 2024 | Monday (Martin Luther King Day) | BBQ Veggie Burger (VE) | BBQ Veggie Cheeseburger (V), Whole Wheat Bun, Seasoned Wedge Fries (VE), Salad Bar, Classic Toppings |
| January 16, 2024 | Tuesday | French Bread Pizza (V) | Garlicky Green Bean (VE), Salad Bar, Welcome Back Bar |
| January 17, 2024 | Wednesday | Big City Bean Taco (VE) | Soft Turkey Taco, Street Style Corn (V), Crispy Tortillas (VE) Served with Salsa (VE), Salad Bar, Fiesta Bar (With Black Bean Salad) |
| January 18, 2024 | Thursday | Chicken Tender Melt On Ciabatta Bread | Superhero Spinach (VE), New York Cookie Treat (V), Salad Bar, Rainbow Bar |
| January 19, 2024 | Friday | Tropical Bean Bowl (VE) | with Sofrito Rice*, Veggie Nuggets (VE), Dipping Sauce, Spiced Sweet Potatoes (VE), Pineapple Salsa (VE), Salad Bar, Fiesta Bar |
| Week 4 | |||
| January 22, 2024 | Monday | Sicilian Slice Pizza (V) | Italian Green Beans (VE), Salad Bar, Welcome Back Bar |
| January 23, 2024 | Tuesday | Chicken Pot Pie | Buttermilk Biscuit (V), Herb Roasted Potatoes (VE), Salad Bar, Leafy Green Salad Bar (With Seasoned Chickpeas) |
| Week 4 | |||
| January 24, 2024 | Wednesday | Manicotti in Marinara Sauce (V) | Mozzarella Sticks (V) with marinara sauce (VE), Roasted Zucchini (VE), Garlic Knot (V), Salad Bar, Pizza Bar |
| January 25, 2024 | Thursday | Moroccan Roasted Chicken Drumsticks | Jollof Cauliflower (V)*, Sweet Potato Wedge Fries (VE), Dinner Roll (V), Salad Bar, Rainbow Bar |
| January 26, 2024 | Friday | White Bean and Pasta Primavera (VE) | Three Cheese Grilled Cheese (V), Crispy Broccoli (V), Salad Bar, Leafy Green Salad Bar |
| Week 5 | |||
| January 29, 2024 | Monday | Pizza by the Slice (V) | Kid Friendly Kale Salad (V), Salad Bar, Pizza Bar (With Balsamic Chickpea Salad) |
| January 30, 2024 | Tuesday | Guisado Kidney Beans (VE)* | Sofrito Rice (VE)*, Grab & Go Salad, Roasted Cauliflower (VE) Served with Salsa (VE), Salad Bar, Leafy Green Salad Bar |
| January 31, 2024 | Wednesday | Plastic Free Lunch Day | Garlic and Tomato Panini (V), Caribbean Style Beef Patty, Baby Carrots (VE), Salad Bar, Plastic Free Lunch Bar |
NYC School Lunch Menu Printable Version
Looking for the NYC School Lunch Menu PDF? You’re in the right place! To access a printable version of the DOE School Lunch Menu, simply click the ‘Print’ button below. This feature provides an easy and free way to print the NYC School Lunch Menu directly from your browser. However, remember to select only the pages of the lunch menu in the print dialog box; otherwise, you might also print the entire article content. By choosing the specific pages, you can create your own handy NYC School Lunch Menu PDF. This method is a great way to keep a physical copy of the menu for your convenience and ensure you’re always up to date with the latest school lunch offerings!
At FSL, our volunteers work hard to keep school lunch menus up-to-date. Occasionally, there may be delays due to school district updates or oversight on our part. If you find an outdated menu, please check your school’s page or the district’s official website, linked at the end of our article. We appreciate your understanding and are committed to providing timely updates.
New York City Public Schools Meal Prices
In a landmark decision for inclusivity, NYC DOE provides all meals free of charge, ensuring that every student, regardless of their economic background, has access to nutritious food. This initiative not only supports the health of students but also contributes to a more equitable learning environment.
List of New York City Public Schools
While we initially intended to compile a comprehensive list of New York City public schools, we discovered that the NYC Department of Education already offers an exceptional resource for this purpose. To explore and access detailed information about each school, we recommend visiting their official ‘Find a School’ page. This tool is not only user-friendly but also consistently updated, ensuring you have the most current information at your fingertips. So, for a thorough and updated list of NYC schools, simply click on the following link: Find a School – New York City Department of Education (schools.nyc).
Summary
The New York City Public Schools exemplify a model of excellence in student nutrition, from their comprehensive meal programs to their unwavering commitment to health and wellness. The district’s approach goes beyond mere meal provision; it’s about creating an environment where every student can thrive both academically and physically.
For the most up-to-date information on lunch menus, nutrition programs, and more, please visit New York City Public Schools’ official website. Here, you’ll find extensive resources that reflect NYC DOE’s dedication to fostering a healthy, nourished, and well-educated student community.
