Grab and Go Style Meal Service Resources for Schools

Written collaboratively by Paige Pappadackis and Kaila Weihe under the direction of Jennifer Folliard and Francesca Benson.

School administrators and nutrition professionals throughout the state are responding to the need to serve meals to children while school is out of session. School nutrition professionals are still required to offer meals that are balanced and meet nutritional guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Many schools have moved to a “to-go” or “grab and go” style of service to abide by social distancing guidelines. SDSU Extension has created resources for menus and healthy food options in each food group to encourage the consumption of healthy foods for the “grab and go” serving style.

Below is a list of meal ideas and the different food groups to assist with menu development for Grab&Go style of food service. 

Four-Week Menu Cycles

This is a 4-week meal plan for K-8 and 9-12. All four weeks are the same between the two grade levels except 9-12 may have more food added on. There is also a list of vegetables split into subgroups that work well with Grab&Go options.

Weekly Goals:

• Meat/Meat Alternatives: 9 oz. eq.
• Grains: 8- 9 oz. eq.
• Fruits: 2 ½ cups
• Vegetables: 3 ¾ cups with vegetable subgroups minimums met
• Fluid Milk: 5 cups – 1 cup/day

Weekly Goals:

• Meat/Meat Alternatives: 9 oz. eq.
• Grains: 8- 9 oz. eq.
• Fruits: 2 ½ cups
• Vegetables: 3 ¾ cups with vegetable subgroups minimums met
• Fluid Milk: 5 cups – 1 cup/day

Weekly Goals:

• Meat/Meat Alternatives: 9 oz. eq.
• Grains: 8- 9 oz. eq.
• Fruits: 2 ½ cups
• Vegetables: 3 ¾ cups with vegetable subgroups minimums met
• Fluid Milk: 5 cups – 1 cup/day

Weekly Goals:

• Meat/Meat Alternatives: 9 oz. eq.
• Grains: 8- 9 oz. eq.
• Fruits: 2 ½ cups
• Vegetables: 3 ¾ cups with vegetable subgroups minimums met
• Fluid Milk: 5 cups – 1 cup/day

Weekly Goals:

• Meat/Meat Alternatives: 10- 12 oz. eq.
• Grains: 10-12 oz. eq.
• Fruits: 5 cups
• Vegetables: 5 cups with vegetable subgroups minimums met
• Fluid Milk: 5 cups – 1 cup/day

Weekly Goals:

• Meat/Meat Alternatives: 10- 12 oz. eq.
• Grains: 10-12 oz. eq.
• Fruits: 5 cups
• Vegetables: 5 cups with vegetable subgroups minimums met
• Fluid Milk: 5 cups – 1 cup/day

Weekly Goals:

• Meat/Meat Alternatives: 10- 12 oz. eq.
• Grains: 10-12 oz. eq.
• Fruits: 5 cups
• Vegetables: 5 cups with vegetable subgroups minimums met
• Fluid Milk: 5 cups – 1 cup/day

Weekly Goals:

• Meat/Meat Alternatives: 10- 12 oz. eq.
• Grains: 10-12 oz. eq.
• Fruits: 5 cups
• Vegetables: 5 cups with vegetable subgroups minimums met
• Fluid Milk: 5 cups – 1 cup/day