What is Offer Versus Serve (OVS)?
Offer versus Serve (OVS) is a meal service provision that allows students to decline some of the food items offered in a reimbursable meal. The core purpose behind this concept is to reduce food waste and empower students with choices, hopefully leading to more consumption of the foods they select and less being thrown away. To receive federal reimbursement, schools must follow specific USDA guidelines, and OVS is one way to meet these requirements. The rules for what constitutes a reimbursable meal under OVS differ slightly between the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
OVS and the School Breakfast Program
Under OVS for breakfast, schools must offer at least four food items from the three required food components: fruits, grains, and fluid milk. Students must select at least three of these offered items to make a reimbursable meal. Crucially, one of the three selected items must be at least a half-cup serving of fruit or vegetable. Schools that choose not to implement OVS for breakfast typically operate under a 'serve-only' model, meaning students must take all the required components for their meal to be reimbursable.
The Key Distinction: Breakfast vs. Lunch OVS Rules
Confusion often arises because the USDA regulations for OVS are different for breakfast than they are for lunch, specifically concerning whether implementation is optional or mandatory. This distinction is critical for school food authorities and parents to understand.
For the National School Lunch Program (NSLP):
- Grades 9-12: OVS is mandatory for all senior high schools participating in the NSLP.
- Grades K-8: OVS is optional for elementary and middle schools. If a school does not choose to implement OVS for these grades, it must use a serve-only system.
For the School Breakfast Program (SBP):
- All Grades (K-12): OVS for breakfast is optional for all grade levels. A school district can decide whether to implement it based on their local needs, operational capacity, and goals for student consumption. There is no mandatory grade requirement for breakfast OVS, setting it apart from the lunch program.
This distinction means a school serving elementary students can have a different OVS policy for breakfast than it does for lunch, and a high school that must operate OVS for lunch can still choose to operate serve-only for breakfast, or vice versa.
How Reimbursable Breakfast Selections Work with OVS
When a school implements OVS for its breakfast program, there are specific steps and rules to ensure meals remain federally reimbursable. The process is straightforward for students to follow with proper signage and training.
Requirements for a Reimbursable OVS Breakfast:
- Offer Four Items: The school must make at least four food items available from the three component groups: grains, fruit/vegetable, and milk. For example, the school might offer a milk carton, a serving of juice, a hot breakfast item (grain), and a cereal option (grain). This provides a selection of more items than the minimum required components.
- Student Selection: A student must take at least three of the food items offered.
- Fruit or Vegetable Requirement: At least one of the three selected items must be a half-cup of fruit or vegetable (or a combination).
- No Impact on Cost: The price of the meal does not change whether the student takes three items or all four.
Consider an example menu for a reimbursable breakfast under OVS:
- Offered Items: Scrambled eggs (M/MA creditable as grain substitute), toast (grain), apple slices (fruit), low-fat milk.
- Student Choice: The student could choose the toast, apple slices, and milk. This is a reimbursable meal because they have selected three food items, and one is a half-cup fruit. The student successfully declined the eggs without consequence.
Comparison Table: OVS for Lunch vs. Breakfast Grade-Level Requirements
| Feature | School Breakfast Program (SBP) | National School Lunch Program (NSLP) |
|---|---|---|
| Grades K-8 | Optional implementation | Optional implementation |
| Grades 9-12 | Optional implementation | Mandatory implementation |
| Food Components | Must offer at least 4 food items from 3 components (grain, fruit, milk) | Must offer all 5 components (meat/meat alternate, grain, fruit, vegetable, milk) |
| Student Selection | Must take at least 3 food items, with at least 1/2 cup fruit/veg | Must take at least 3 components, with at least 1/2 cup fruit/veg |
Conclusion
The USDA's Offer vs. Serve provision is a valuable tool for schools aiming to reduce food waste and promote student autonomy in the cafeteria. While OVS is mandatory for high school lunches, it is entirely optional for the School Breakfast Program across all grade levels, from kindergarten through high school. This flexibility allows school districts to make decisions that best suit their student population, operational logistics, and nutritional goals. Regardless of whether a school decides to implement OVS for breakfast or not, the guidelines for a reimbursable meal are clearly defined and must be followed for federal funding.
For more detailed information on OVS requirements, consult the official documentation from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
