Cincinnati Public Schools was the first large school district in the country to offer lunch in 1898.
Today the district continues that proud tradition, serving over 5.5 million lunches and 3 million breakfasts to students throughout the year, including citywide summer programs.
Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, parents will be able to access an online account to monitor what food items their children are purchasing, replenish lunch money or set up automatic payments.
Parents will be able to:
Even if parents do not choose to use their Student Meal Account for payments, they can still check to see what their children are eating. A 30-day history of what was purchased is provided for each student account.
It is simple and quick to register for a Student Meal Account at www.PayPAMS.com. Click on the link on the right to get more information and get answers to frequently-asked questions.
The Ohio Department of Education awarded Cincinnati Public Schools with a 2011 and 2010 Stellar Award for best practices in promoting healthy school nutrition. CPS was one of only 32 schools or districts in Ohio to be given this honor.
Good nutrition is important to learning. Children behave better, have longer attention spans and are more eager to learn when they eat healthy meals. Food Services wants to make sure that all of CPS' students are ready to focus on their lessons every day.
The stigma of the "traditional school lunch" is challenging to overcome, but Food Services is working hard to provide exciting menu options, new marketing initiatives, and improve food choice and quality. Their goal is provide restaurant-style food that meets nutritional guidelines.
Innovations include:
Meals served under the National School Lunch Program meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. School lunches provide one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of daily nutritional requirements appropriate for that grade level — protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium and calories. No more than 30% of calories comes from fat, and less than 10% from saturated fat.
Portion sizes are regulated by the National School Breakfast & Lunch Programs. At lunch, students are offered 2 ounces of protein, three servings of fruits/vegetables — above the United States Department of Agriculture recommendations, ten bread servings per week and a 1/2 pint of milk. For breakfast 1/2 pint white milk, 1/2 cup serving of fruit or juice, one serving of bread or cereal, and a second bread/cereal or 1 oz of protein are offered.
Wellness and the problem of childhood obesity are top considerations for school food service. The changes to school menus work in conjunction with CPS' Wellness Policy, which aims to promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging schoolchildren to eat healthier foods and to get more exercise.
In 2011 a study, conducted by the National Centers for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and published in the Journal of Economics, showed that participation in the National School Lunch Program reduces poor general health by 29%, obesity by at least 17% and not getting enough food to sustain an active, healthy life by 3.8%.
According to research published in 2010 by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, just 1.1% of children's packed lunches meet nutritional standards for school meals. USDA research indicates that children who participate in the National School Lunch Program get better nutrition compared to those who do not participate.
For children, the National School Lunch Program provides a nutritious meal containing one-third of the recommended dietary allowance of necessary nutrients. For parents, the program offers a convenient method of providing a nutritionally balanced lunch at the lowest possible price. For schools, the program enhances children's learning abilities by contributing to their physical and mental well-being. Studies have shown that children whose nutritional needs are met have fewer attendance and discipline problems and are more attentive in class.
The Food Services Fund differs from other district budgets because it is an Enterprise Fund, which is run like a private business. Revenues need to meet or exceed expenditures. Since Food Services is self-supporting, it depends on prompt payment to maintain the services provided to students.
Food Services does not receive any money from the district's General Fund budget, levies, or property taxes. Food Services is funded only from federal reimbursement and student payments.
Cincinnati Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer/provider.
Breakfast is served to all CPS' students at no charge.
2011-12 Lunch Prices