Students in lunch

Food & Nutrition Services

"Well-nourished students are ready to learn."

Food and Nutrition Services team members are partners in education, contributing to a successful academic experience for students through an innovative, nutritious and cost efficient program that encourages a lifetime of good nutrition. The program adheres to the United States Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.

Food and Nutrition Services team members are partners in education, contributing to a successful academic experience for students through an innovative, nutritious and cost efficient program that encourages a lifetime of good nutrition. The program adheres to the United States Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.

New for 2025-26 : SchoolCafe is all you need for school meals

Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, Chesterfield County Public Schools will move to the SchoolCafe web platform and app for all things related to school meals. This powerful app replaces three apps previously used for viewing menus, paying for meals online and applying for free or reduced-price meals (MealViewer, MySchoolBucks and MySchoolApps).

SchoolCafe will continue to help families:

  • Make online payments for meals

  • View breakfast and lunch menus

  • Monitor your child’s cafeteria purchases

  • Set spending limits

  • Receive low balance notifications

Here’s how to get started with SchoolCafe:

  • Visit www.schoolcafe.com or download the free SchoolCafe app to your phone.

  • Create an account using your child’s student ID number. (You can find your child’s student ID via ParentVUE or by contacting your school.)

  • Set preferences and add funds as needed. (Any money that was in your MySchoolBucks account has been transferred to SchoolCafe.)

  • If you have questions or need help setting up your account, then call 866-442-6030 (toll free) or click the purple icon at the bottom of the screen to check out FAQs or chat with the SchoolCafe support team.


Important links and forms

Please note: Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, Chesterfield County Public Schools will move to the SchoolCafe web platform and app for all things related to school meals. This powerful app replaces three apps previously used for viewing menus, paying for meals online and applying for free or reduced-price meals (MealViewer, MySchoolBucks and MySchoolApps).

Forms - English

Formularios - Español

Free/Reduced-Price School meals

Families may apply for free or reduced-price school meals through the USDA National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.

  • A new application must be submitted each school year, and it must be completed in full to be considered.

  • The most convenient way to submit an application is to apply online.

  • A paper application is available upon request from the school office or from Food and Nutrition Services.

At schools covered by the community eligibility provision, all students receive free school meals. Families at those schools do not need to submit an application. Chesterfield County schools covered by the community eligibility provision are listed in the dropdown menu.

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program

Food and Nutrition Services offers a Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program at Bellwood, Bensley, Chalkley, Christian, Ettrick, Falling Creek, Harrowgate, Hopkins and Salem Church elementary schools.

They offer a fresh fruit and vegetable snack to students 3 days a week in school.

The goal of the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program is to:

  • Create healthier school environments by providing healthier food opportunities and education

  • Expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption

  • Make a difference in children’s diets to impact their present and future health

Snacks will be eaten in the classroom, along with fun and educational information led by school staff. Children will be encouraged to try the fruit or vegetable snack of the day, but they may choose to not participate if they do not like or cannot eat the fruit or vegetable offered.

Please encourage your child to participate in the snack, as this is a great way to show students healthy food choices that are both familiar and new!

Adding Money to your Child's Account

Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, Chesterfield County Public Schools will move to the SchoolCafe web platform and app for all things related to school meals. This powerful app replaces three apps previously used for viewing menus, paying for meals online and applying for free or reduced-price meals (MealViewer, MySchoolBucks and MySchoolApps).

Returned Checks

Food and Nutrition Services contracts with Envision Payment Solutions for services related to returned checks. A $50 fee is charged for each returned check in addition to the value of the check. For questions, call 855-832-5226.

Information About Nutrition and Menus

Chesterfield County Public Schools provides nutritious breakfasts and lunches, offering milk, fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains and meeting strict limits on saturated fat and portion size. Nutrition is prioritized, and CCPS is meeting the challenges set forth in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. School lunches must meet federal standards that require 

  • age-appropriate calorie limits

  • larger servings of vegetables and fruits (Students are required to take at least one fruit or vegetable) 

  • wider variety of vegetables, including dark green vegetables, red/orange vegetables and legumes 

  • fat-free or 1% milk 

  • more whole grains (At least half of all the grains in school meals must be whole grains) 

  • minimum and maximum levels for all grain and protein products

  • less sodium

Here are some of the steps taken to make school breakfasts and lunches healthy and nutritious:

  • whole-grain rolls, biscuits, buns and pizza crust

  • cupped fruit in natural or extra-light syrup

  • reduced-fat dressings

  • baked fries (no frying in elementary or middle schools)

  • whole-grain breading on chicken and nuggets

  • 100% beef and reduced-fat burgers

  • vegetarian choice every day

How to view school lunch menus

Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, Chesterfield County Public Schools will move to the SchoolCafe web platform and app for all things related to school meals. This powerful app replaces three apps previously used for viewing menus, paying for meals online and applying for free or reduced-price meals (MealViewer, MySchoolBucks and MySchoolApps).

Food Allergies

Parents can use this link to the Food Allergy/Food modification Medical Statement or get one from their school’s nurse or cafeteria manager. This form must be completed and signed by a Licensed Healthcare Provider and returned to the school’s nurse. The school nurse will provide the statement to the cafeteria manager who will send it to the Food & Nutrition Dietitian to determine any meal accommodations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Non-discrimination statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

  2. Fax: 202-690-7442; or

  3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.