School Nutrition Frequently Asked Questions
Check out these frequently asked questions and their answers regarding the Ames CSD school nutrition program. Click the question to see the resulting answer. For any question outside of the ones listed here, please contact the Business Services Department.
School Nutrition Questions
Who should participate in the school breakfast and lunch program?
- Ames Community School District encourages all students to participate in the school breakfast and lunch program.
- Nutritious meals are served to promote better student learning.
What Is Ames Community School District’s Meal And Snack Policy?
- To encourage participation and to provide nutritious, well-balanced, attractive meals at a reasonable cost in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and the District’s Wellness Policy.
- All fees pertaining to meals (breakfast and/or lunch) and any a la carte items that the student purchases, or consumes, shall be the responsibility of the student’s parents/guardians.
- Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases. However, they must pay for a la carte items or extra milk at the time of purchase.
- Students with an accrued negative balance who do not qualify for free meals shall be allowed to charge a reimbursable meal (as defined by the USDA). However, they must pay for a la carte items or extra milk at the time of purchase.
- Students who wish to purchase any extra items, regardless of their eligibility status or account balance, are required to have sufficient funds in their meal account prior to the purchase or they must pay with cash at the time of purchase.
- The district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low.
- Negative balances over $100 per family may be turned over to a collection agency.
- The full policy can be found on the Ames Community School District website.
Who should complete a meal application?
- Families that feel they meet the income guidelines should complete a meal application online via their parent portal account. Meal benefits may apply to other programs and fees, not only food.
- Families do not need to complete a meal application if their children are directly certified automatically via the SNAP, FIP, or specific Medicaid programs.
- Students that qualify for free status may receive a reimbursable meal for free.
- Students that qualify for reduced status may receive a reimbursable meal at a reduced rate ($.30 for Breakfast, $.40 for Lunch). However, due to one-time pandemic funds, Ames CSD is in a financial position to offer free breakfast for all students until 12/31/2023 at which time the funds will re-evaluate and remain free or revert to a reduced price of $.30.
- Any charges incurred until an application is approved are the responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s) and must be paid.
- The meal application is available online via your parent portal. Once logged into your parent portal, click on “More” and then click on “Meal Benefits”
Do I need to complete an application if my child(ren) qualified for free or reduced status last year?
- Yes. Free or reduced status does not roll over year after year. You must complete an application each year if you feel you meet the income guidelines and are not directly certified automatically via SNAP, FIP, or specific Medicaid programs.
What makes up a “reimbursable meal”?
- At breakfast, a meal consists of a minimum of three different food items from an offering of at least four components. One of the three items must be a full serving of a fruit or vegetable.
- Grain items – such as cereal or muffins.
- Protein items – such as yogurt, eggs, and string cheese.
- Fruit or vegetable – juice, canned, fresh.
- Fluid milk.
- At lunch, a meal consists of a minimum of three of the five “components”, and one of the three must be a full serving
of a fruit or vegetable.
- Grain
- Meat/meat alternate
- Fruit
- Vegetable
- Fluid milk
Are à la carte items free?
No. À la carte items are not free. A student may choose to purchase à la carte items if they have money in their meal account or cash in hand at the time of purchase, however, change will not be provided, so exact cash is preferred.
Any cash amount over the price of the item will be deposited into the student’s meal account.
Can my student get only milk if they bring a meal from home?
Yes, a student can purchase only milk. Milk by itself costs $0.50. Students must have money in their meal account or cash in hand at the time of purchase, however, change will not be provided, so exact cash is preferred. Any cash amount over $.50 will be deposited into the student’s meal account.
Can I join my child for breakfast or lunch?
If visitors are allowed in the buildings, you may join your child for breakfast or lunch. An adult breakfast costs $2.65. An adult lunch costs $4.85.
What are the prices for school meals?
Visit the Menu and Meal Prices page for 2024-25 pricing information.
How do I know what is being served on the menu?
- Go to www.ames.nutrislice.com. Select your child’s school, then breakfast or lunch to see the current menu. You can filter the menu for common allergens; get the carb information for the items on the menu; view the menu in different languages.
- If a menu change is made at any time, the change will show in Nutrislice within 15 minutes of it being made in our menu planning program.
Is my child allowed to have seconds?
- At elementary schools, students are not allowed to have seconds of the entrée. However, they are allowed unlimited fruits and vegetables.
- At middle and high school, students are allowed to come back through the line to purchase more items from the various food stations.
My child doesn’t eat meat. Are there meatless options?
Yes. At elementary schools, there is at least one meatless option a day. It usually has a dairy item as protein. In middle and high schools, there are several meatless choices.
My child has allergies or special dietary needs. What should I do?
Please contact your student’s school nurse to discuss your child’s needs. The Food Service Department will adjust individual students’ menus for life-threatening/life-altering dietary conditions and there must be a physician’s statement on file for those dietary conditions. The physician’s statement needs to be specific regarding the condition, the foods to avoid, and the foods to be substituted. Should your student need a special menu, the Food Service Director will meet with you to begin the process and will need to have your approval of the menu once it is planned before it can be served to your student.
How can I see what my student has eaten or how much money is in their lunch account?
You can log in to your Infinite Campus parent portal at any time to view your student’s food service purchases or meal account balance. While you will be able to see the general categories purchased, you will not be able to see specific a la carte items. You should have received information about Infinite Campus during registration. If you have any questions pertaining to Infinite Campus, please contact 515-268-6635.
How do I add money to my student’s food service account?
- Online: You can add money to your student’s meal account online through your parent portal via Payrix. If you have any questions pertaining to Payrix, please contact 515-268-6635.
- Check: Please make checks out to: Ames Community School District. Please write your student’s first and last name in the memo and place the check in a sealed envelope. Deposit envelopes are provided at each school in the main office. Always include your student’s first and last name, school, grade/teacher, and meal account number/student ID number (if known) on the envelope. Deposits may take 24-48 hours to be credited to your student’s account.
- Cash: Ames Community School District highly discourages the use of cash as a payment method. If you choose to use cash, please place the cash in a sealed envelope. Deposit envelopes are provided at each school in the main office. Always include your student’s first and last name, school, grade/teacher, and meal account number/student ID number (if known) on the envelope.Deposits may take 24-48 hours to be credited to your student’s meal account.
What happens if I forget to add money to my student’s food service account?
- Students shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have a zero balance in their meal account or have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases.
- Students who wish to purchase any extra items are required to have sufficient funds in their meal account prior to the purchase or they must pay with cash at the time of purchase.
If I have two or more students, can I write one check?
Yes, one check for multiple students is accepted and will be split evenly between accounts unless otherwise noted with payment. Please write each student’s name and account number on the check.
What if there is money in my student’s account at the end of the year?
Any money in a student’s meal account will roll over to the next year.
My student is graduating and/or we are moving out of the district what will happen to the money in their meal account?
- You may request a refund. Please email the Food Service Department, deb.milliken@ames.k12.ia.us, to request a refund.
- Refund by check: Please include the following information in the email; your graduating student’s name, the name of the person to whom the check will be made out, and the address to where the check will be sent.
- Direct deposit refund: Please request an EFT Authorization form be sent to you.
- You may request that the funds be transferred to another student’s meal account in your household. Please email
deb.milliken@ames.k12.ia.us, with the name of your graduating student and the name of the other student in your
household.
- You may also donate the remaining balance to the Ames Community School District to apply toward students’meal
accounts with negative balances. Please email deb.milliken@ames.k12.ia.us, with your desire to donate.
Can I make a donation to the district for students who need help paying for their school meals?
- Yes, the District always accepts donations.
- Online donations can be made via Payrix, under the Lunch Hero Donation tab.
- Checks can be mailed to Ames Community School District, c/o Business Office, 2005 24th Street, Ames, IA 50010. Please make the check payable to Ames Community School District and note the food service donation on the memo line. You should specify if you have any wishes for their donation, i.e., a certain school or grade level. The donation will be recognized by the School Board, and you will receive a gift letter for tax purposes. If you wish to remain anonymous, you should specify that in your note with their donation.
Who should participate in the school breakfast and lunch program?
- Ames Community School District encourages all students to participate in the school breakfast and lunch program.
- Nutritious meals are served to promote better student learning.
What Is Ames Community School District’s Meal And Snack Policy?
- To encourage participation and to provide nutritious, well-balanced, attractive meals at a reasonable cost in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and the District’s Wellness Policy.
- All fees pertaining to meals (breakfast and/or lunch) and any a la carte items that the student purchases, or consumes, shall be the responsibility of the student’s parents/guardians.
- Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases. However, they must pay for a la carte items or extra milk at the time of purchase.
- Students with an accrued negative balance who do not qualify for free meals shall be allowed to charge a reimbursable meal (as defined by the USDA). However, they must pay for a la carte items or extra milk at the time of purchase.
- Students who wish to purchase any extra items, regardless of their eligibility status or account balance, are required to have sufficient funds in their meal account prior to the purchase or they must pay with cash at the time of purchase.
- The district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low.
- Negative balances over $100 per family may be turned over to a collection agency.
- The full policy can be found on the Ames Community School District website.
Who should complete a meal application?
- Families that feel they meet the income guidelines should complete a meal application online via their parent portal account. Meal benefits may apply to other programs and fees, not only food.
- Families do not need to complete a meal application if their children are directly certified automatically via the SNAP, FIP, or specific Medicaid programs.
- Students that qualify for free status may receive a reimbursable meal for free.
- Students that qualify for reduced status may receive a reimbursable meal at a reduced rate ($.30 for Breakfast, $.40 for Lunch). However, due to one-time pandemic funds, Ames CSD is in a financial position to offer free breakfast for all students until 12/31/2023 at which time the funds will re-evaluate and remain free or revert to a reduced price of $.30.
- Any charges incurred until an application is approved are the responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s) and must be paid.
- The meal application is available online via your parent portal. Once logged into your parent portal, click on “More” and then click on “Meal Benefits”
Do I need to complete an application if my child(ren) qualified for free or reduced status last year?
- Yes. Free or reduced status does not roll over year after year. You must complete an application each year if you feel you meet the income guidelines and are not directly certified automatically via SNAP, FIP, or specific Medicaid programs.
What makes up a “reimbursable meal”?
- At breakfast, a meal consists of a minimum of three different food items from an offering of at least four components. One of the three items must be a full serving of a fruit or vegetable.
- Grain items – such as cereal or muffins.
- Protein items – such as yogurt, eggs, and string cheese.
- Fruit or vegetable – juice, canned, fresh.
- Fluid milk.
- At lunch, a meal consists of a minimum of three of the five “components”, and one of the three must be a full serving
of a fruit or vegetable.- Grain
- Meat/meat alternate
- Fruit
- Vegetable
- Fluid milk
Are à la carte items free?
No. À la carte items are not free. A student may choose to purchase à la carte items if they have money in their meal account or cash in hand at the time of purchase, however, change will not be provided, so exact cash is preferred.
Any cash amount over the price of the item will be deposited into the student’s meal account.
Can my student get only milk if they bring a meal from home?
Yes, a student can purchase only milk. Milk by itself costs $0.50. Students must have money in their meal account or cash in hand at the time of purchase, however, change will not be provided, so exact cash is preferred. Any cash amount over $.50 will be deposited into the student’s meal account.
Can I join my child for breakfast or lunch?
If visitors are allowed in the buildings, you may join your child for breakfast or lunch. An adult breakfast costs $2.65. An adult lunch costs $4.85.
What are the prices for school meals?
Visit the Menu and Meal Prices page for 2024-25 pricing information.
How do I know what is being served on the menu?
- Go to www.ames.nutrislice.com. Select your child’s school, then breakfast or lunch to see the current menu. You can filter the menu for common allergens; get the carb information for the items on the menu; view the menu in different languages.
- If a menu change is made at any time, the change will show in Nutrislice within 15 minutes of it being made in our menu planning program.
Is my child allowed to have seconds?
- At elementary schools, students are not allowed to have seconds of the entrée. However, they are allowed unlimited fruits and vegetables.
- At middle and high school, students are allowed to come back through the line to purchase more items from the various food stations.
My child doesn’t eat meat. Are there meatless options?
Yes. At elementary schools, there is at least one meatless option a day. It usually has a dairy item as protein. In middle and high schools, there are several meatless choices.
My child has allergies or special dietary needs. What should I do?
Please contact your student’s school nurse to discuss your child’s needs. The Food Service Department will adjust individual students’ menus for life-threatening/life-altering dietary conditions and there must be a physician’s statement on file for those dietary conditions. The physician’s statement needs to be specific regarding the condition, the foods to avoid, and the foods to be substituted. Should your student need a special menu, the Food Service Director will meet with you to begin the process and will need to have your approval of the menu once it is planned before it can be served to your student.
How can I see what my student has eaten or how much money is in their lunch account?
You can log in to your Infinite Campus parent portal at any time to view your student’s food service purchases or meal account balance. While you will be able to see the general categories purchased, you will not be able to see specific a la carte items. You should have received information about Infinite Campus during registration. If you have any questions pertaining to Infinite Campus, please contact 515-268-6635.
How do I add money to my student’s food service account?
- Online: You can add money to your student’s meal account online through your parent portal via Payrix. If you have any questions pertaining to Payrix, please contact 515-268-6635.
- Check: Please make checks out to: Ames Community School District. Please write your student’s first and last name in the memo and place the check in a sealed envelope. Deposit envelopes are provided at each school in the main office. Always include your student’s first and last name, school, grade/teacher, and meal account number/student ID number (if known) on the envelope. Deposits may take 24-48 hours to be credited to your student’s account.
- Cash: Ames Community School District highly discourages the use of cash as a payment method. If you choose to use cash, please place the cash in a sealed envelope. Deposit envelopes are provided at each school in the main office. Always include your student’s first and last name, school, grade/teacher, and meal account number/student ID number (if known) on the envelope.Deposits may take 24-48 hours to be credited to your student’s meal account.
What happens if I forget to add money to my student’s food service account?
- Students shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have a zero balance in their meal account or have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases.
- Students who wish to purchase any extra items are required to have sufficient funds in their meal account prior to the purchase or they must pay with cash at the time of purchase.
If I have two or more students, can I write one check?
Yes, one check for multiple students is accepted and will be split evenly between accounts unless otherwise noted with payment. Please write each student’s name and account number on the check.
What if there is money in my student’s account at the end of the year?
Any money in a student’s meal account will roll over to the next year.
My student is graduating and/or we are moving out of the district what will happen to the money in their meal account?
- You may request a refund. Please email the Food Service Department, deb.milliken@ames.k12.ia.us, to request a refund.
- Refund by check: Please include the following information in the email; your graduating student’s name, the name of the person to whom the check will be made out, and the address to where the check will be sent.
- Direct deposit refund: Please request an EFT Authorization form be sent to you.
- You may request that the funds be transferred to another student’s meal account in your household. Please email
deb.milliken@ames.k12.ia.us, with the name of your graduating student and the name of the other student in your
household. - You may also donate the remaining balance to the Ames Community School District to apply toward students’meal
accounts with negative balances. Please email deb.milliken@ames.k12.ia.us, with your desire to donate.
Can I make a donation to the district for students who need help paying for their school meals?
- Yes, the District always accepts donations.
- Online donations can be made via Payrix, under the Lunch Hero Donation tab.
- Checks can be mailed to Ames Community School District, c/o Business Office, 2005 24th Street, Ames, IA 50010. Please make the check payable to Ames Community School District and note the food service donation on the memo line. You should specify if you have any wishes for their donation, i.e., a certain school or grade level. The donation will be recognized by the School Board, and you will receive a gift letter for tax purposes. If you wish to remain anonymous, you should specify that in your note with their donation.
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