CPS Nutrition Guidelines

Fruits and Vegetables

Breakfast features a different fruit daily, at least three fresh fruits a week.
Lunch features five different fresh fruits per week.
Vegetables from the dark-green, red, orange, beans and peas, and other sub-groups may be substituted for fruits to meet the breakfast fruit requirement.
Lunch features one cup of vegetables daily and two additional vegetable servings weekly.
Fresh local produce is to be served twice per month, frozen local produce is to be served once per week, with additional special local promotions at least once a month

All grain items served at breakfast and lunch are whole-grain rich.

Protein must be included as a component in breakfast three times a week for both hot and cold menus.
The district supports sustainability and environmental efforts by offering plant-based meals daily.
Meatless protein may include tofu, soy, beans, legumes, peanut butter, and Greek yogurt.
Lean, finely textured beef (LFTB), also known as pink slime, is prohibited.
All CPS menus are pork-free.
All chicken has no antibiotics ever (NAE).

Starchy vegetables (peas, corn, and potatoes) are limited to one cup per week.
Potato items (i.e., French fries, tater tots, hash browns, etc.) are limited to once per week in elementary schools and twice per week in high schools.
Nachos are limited to once a month in elementary schools and once a week in high schools.

CPS meals do not include deep-fat frying, MSG, trans fats, or high-fat, high-sugar condiments.
Water and juice may not contain artificial or added sweeteners.
Sodium levels must meet the prescribed USDA targets.
No sodium is added in meal preparation, and no salt shakers are made available to students.
Syrup is limited to one packet per meal.

All milk is low-fat or skim and may not contain water, preservatives, neutralizers, rGHB, BST, or other foreign matters.
Flavored milk is not served at breakfast in elementary schools.
All beverages served or sold must meet the Local School Wellness Policy.
All students have access to plain drinking water at no cost.

Locally sourced fresh frozen items are to be served at lunch at least once each week.
Locally sourced fresh items are to be served at least twice each month
Locally raised, no-antibiotic-ever chicken is to be served at least twice each month.

All food served or sold on school grounds to be consumed during the school day, including items in vending machines, à la carte and school stores, must follow the same high nutritional standards as food served during breakfast and lunch. The school day is defined as midnight to 30 minutes after dismissal.
No food may be offered or sold in place of a school meal (i.e. NO pizza parties, Subway parties, etc. in place of lunch).
For more information on healthy snack and beverage policies, as well as local school wellness policies on celebrations, fundraisers, and rewards, see Competitive Food Guidance.
For questions related to the district’s centralized vending machine program, please email NSSFinance@cps.edu.

CPS aims to reduce ingredients of concern in our school meals. Unwanted ingredients should not be included in newly developed products and eliminated, over time, from existing products. Ingredients on the "Watch List" tend to be highly processed foods and foods with lower nutritional quality.
Learn more about these ingredients from the Ingredient Guide for Better School Purchasing .