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.
Meal Ideas
- Whole grain (WG) sandwich or WG sub
- Deli meat sandwich (turkey, chicken, ham, roast beef, pepperoni)
- Italian
- Egg salad
- Tuna salad
- Chicken salad
- PB & J
- Wraps
- Caesar
- Deli meat wrap (turkey, chicken, ham, roast beef, pepperoni)
- Salads
- Chef salad
- Strawberry chicken salad
- Caesar
- Crackers + sliced meat + sliced cheese
- Uncrustable PB & J
- Yogurt parfait (Greek yogurt + WG granola + fruit)
- Bagel basket
- Hummus + veggie + WG crackers
- Hard boiled eggs
- Make your own pizza (similar to a Lunchable)
Individual Component Ideas
Grains
- WG bread
- WG bagels
- WG wraps/pitas
- Pretzels, Wheat Thins, WG crackers, Triscuits
Protein
- Meat/deli meat
- Peanut butter/nut butters
- Hummus
- Hard boiled eggs
- Cheese sticks/shredded/sliced cheese
- Nuts/seeds/trail mix
- Yogurt/Greek yogurt
- Meat sticks
- Garbanzo beans/hummus
- Beans
Fruit
- Banana
- Kiwi
- Apple
- Orange/clementine's
- Grapes
- Pears
- Peaches
- Any canned fruit in 100% Juice – peaches, pears, mandarin oranges
- Fruit cups in 100% juice or water
- Fruit juices, 100% Juice
Vegetables by Subgroup
- Dark green vegetables
- Romaine lettuce
- Spinach
- Broccoli florets
- Red/orange vegetables
- Carrots
- Red/orange peppers
- Salsa
- Tomatoes – grape, slices
- Starchy vegetables
- Corn
- Green peas
- Potatoes – potato salad
- Beans/peas
- Black beans
- Garbanzo beans
Other Vegetables
- Cauliflower florets
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Iceberg lettuce
- Olives
- Pickles
- Radishes
- Sugar snap peas
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.
Italian Wrap |
Chef Salad |
Bagel Basket |
Banana Parfait |
Tuna Salad Sandwich |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Components | |||||
Meat/Meat Alternatives (1 oz. eq. daily min) |
Pepperoni, Ham, Sliced or Shredded Cheese | Ham, Shredded Cheese | Vanilla Greek Yogurt, Cheese Stick | Vanilla Greek Yogurt | Tuna Salad |
Grains (1 oz. eq. daily min) |
WG Wrap | WG Breadstick | WG Bagel | WG Granola | WG Bread |
Fruits (½ cup daily min) |
Peaches | Pineapple | Apple | Banana | Grapes |
Vegetables (¾ cup daily min) |
|||||
Dark Green |
- | Romaine Lettuce | - | - | Romaine Lettuce (side salad) |
Red/Orange |
Red/Orange Pepper Sticks | - | Grape Tomatoes | Carrot Sticks | Shredded Carrot Sticks |
Beans |
- | Black Beans | - | - | - |
Starchy |
- | Corn | - | - | - |
Other Vegetables |
Cauliflower Florets | - | Cucumbers | Celery Sticks | Radishes |
Additional |
Pickles | - | - | - | - |
Other Foods | |||||
Milk |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored, Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
Condiments |
Mayo Packet/Ranch | Ranch | Cream Cheese | Ranch | Ranch |
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
Turkey & Cheese Sub |
Chef Salad |
Berry Parfait |
Ham & Cheese Wrap |
Bean & Cheese Nachos |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Components | |||||
Meat/Meat Alternatives (1 oz. eq. daily min) |
Turkey, Sliced Cheese | Egg, Shredded Cheese | Vanilla Greek Yogurt | Ham, Sliced or Shredded Cheese | Shredded Cheese |
Grains (1 oz. eq. daily min) |
WG Sub | WG Breadstick | WG Granola | WG Wrap | Tortilla Chips |
Fruits (½ cup daily min) |
Banana | Clementine's | Blueberries, Strawberries | Grapes | Apple |
Vegetables (¾ cup daily min) |
|||||
Dark Green (½ cup/week) |
- | Romaine Lettuce | - | - | - |
Red/Orange (¾ cup/week) |
Grape Tomatoes | - | Carrot sticks | Red/Orange Pepper Sticks | Salsa |
Beans (½ cup/week) |
- | Crunchy garbanzo beans | - | - | Black Beans |
Starchy (½ cup/week) |
- | - | - | Potato Salad | - |
Other Vegetables (½ cup/week) |
Cucumbers | - | Celery Sticks | - | - |
Additional (1 cup/week) |
Pickles | - | - | - | Olives |
Other Foods | |||||
Milk (1 cup/day) |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
Condiments | Mayo Packet/Ranch | Ranch | Ranch | Mayo Packet/Ranch | - |
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
Sunflower Butter & Jelly Sandwich |
Taco in a Bag |
Chef Salad |
Roast Beef Wrap |
Make Your Own Pizza Bagel |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Components | |||||
Meat/Meat Alternatives (1 oz. eq. daily min) |
Sunflower Butter, Cheese Stick | Black Beans, Shredded Cheese | Turkey, Shredded Cheese | Roast Beef, Sliced Cheese | Turkey Pepperoni, Shredded Cheese |
Grains (1 oz. eq. daily min) |
WG Bread | Baked Doritos | Wheat Thin Crackers | WG Wrap | WG Bagel |
Fruits (½ cup daily min) |
Applesauce | Pears | Banana | Kiwi | Mandarin Oranges |
Vegetables (¾ cup daily min) |
|||||
Dark Green (½ cup/week) |
Broccoli Florets | Shredded Lettuce | Romaine Lettuce | - | - |
Red/Orange (¾ cup/week) |
Carrot Sticks | Salsa | - | Tomato Slices | Tomato sauce |
Beans (½ cup/week) |
- | - | Crunchy Garbanzo Beans | - | - |
Starchy (½ cup/week) |
- | Corn | - | - | - |
Other Vegetables (½ cup/week) |
- | Olives | - | Cucumbers | Snap Peas |
Additional (1 cup/week) |
- | - | - | Pickles | - |
Other Foods | |||||
Milk (1 cup/day) |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
Condiments | Jelly, Ranch | Sour Cream | Ranch | Light Mayo Packet | - |
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
Eggs |
Strawberry Parfait |
Taco Salad |
PB Banana Sandwich |
English Muffin |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Components | |||||
Meat/Meat Alternatives (1 oz. eq. daily min) |
Hard Boiled Eggs, Cheese Stick | Vanilla Greek yogurt | Shredded Cheese | Peanut Butter, Cheese Stick | Greek Yogurt |
Grains (1 oz. eq. daily min) |
WG Pretzels | WG granola | Baked Doritos | WG Bread | WG English muffin |
Fruits (½ cup daily min) |
Apple | Strawberries | Pears | Banana | Kiwi |
Vegetables (¾ cup daily min) |
|||||
Dark Green (½ cup/week) |
- | - | Romaine Lettuce | - | Broccoli Florets |
Red/Orange (¾ cup/week) |
Carrot Sticks | - | - | Grape Tomatoes | Bell Peppers |
Beans (½ cup/week) |
Hummus | - | Black Beans | - | - |
Starchy (½ cup/week) |
- | - | Corn | - | - |
Other Vegetables (½ cup/week) |
- | Cucumbers, Cauliflower Florets | - | Snap Peas | - |
Additional (1 cup/week) |
- | - | - | - | - |
Other Foods | |||||
Milk (1 cup/day) |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
Condiments | - | Ranch | Sour Cream | Ranch | Ranch, PB, or Cream Cheese |
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
Italian Wrap |
Chef Salad |
Bagel Basket |
Banana Parfait |
Tuna Salad Sandwich |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Components | |||||
Meat/Meat Alternatives (2 oz. eq. daily min) |
Pepperoni, Ham, Sliced or Shredded Cheese | Ham, Shredded Cheese | Vanilla Greek Yogurt, Cheese Stick | Vanilla Greek Yogurt | Tuna Salad |
Grains (2 oz. eq. daily min) |
WG Wrap | WG Breadstick | WG Bagel | Granola | WG Bread |
Fruits (1 cup daily min) |
Peaches | Pineapple | Apple | Banana | Grapes |
Vegetables (1 cup daily min) |
|||||
Dark Green |
- | Romaine Lettuce | - | - | Romaine Lettuce (side salad) |
Red/Orange |
Red/Orange Pepper Sticks | - | Grape Tomatoes | Carrot Sticks | Shredded Carrot Sticks |
Beans |
- | Black Beans | - | - | - |
Starchy |
- | Corn | - | - | - |
Other Vegetables |
Cauliflower Florets | - | Cucumbers | Celery Sticks | Radishes |
Additional |
Pickles | - | - | - | - |
Other Foods | |||||
Milk |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored, Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
Condiments |
Ranch | Ranch | Cream Cheese/Ranch | Ranch | Ranch |
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
Turkey & Cheese Sub |
Chef Salad |
Berry Parfait |
Ham & Cheese Wrap |
Bean & Cheese Nachos |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Components | |||||
Meat/Meat Alternatives (2 oz. eq. daily min) |
Turkey, Sliced Cheese | Egg, Shredded Cheese | Vanilla Greek Yogurt | Ham, Sliced or Shredded Cheese | Shredded Cheese |
Grains (2 oz. eq. daily min) |
WG Bread | WG Breadstick | WG Granola | WG Wrap | Tortilla Chips |
Fruits (1 cup daily min) |
Banana | Clementines | Blueberries, Strawberries | Grapes | Apple |
Vegetables (1 cup daily min) |
|||||
Dark Green (½ cup/week) |
- | Romaine Lettuce | - | Broccoli | - |
Red/Orange (1 ¼ cup/week) |
Grape Tomatoes | - | Carrot sticks | Red/Orange Pepper Sticks | Salsa |
Beans (½ cup/week) |
- | Crunchy garbanzo beans | - | - | Black Beans |
Starchy (½ cup/week) |
- | - | - | Potato Salad | - |
Other Vegetables (¾ cup/week) |
Cucumbers | - | Celery Sticks | - | - |
Additional (1 ½ cup/week) |
Pickles | - | - | - | Olives |
Other Foods | |||||
Milk (1 cup/day) |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
Condiments | Mayo Packet/Ranch | Ranch | Ranch | Mayo Packet/Dressing | - |
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
Sunflower Butter & Jelly Sandwich |
Taco in a Bag |
Chef Salad |
Roast Beef Wrap |
Make Your Own Pizza Bagel |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Components | |||||
Meat/Meat Alternatives (2 oz. eq. daily min) |
Sunflower Butter, Cheese Stick | Black Beans, Shredded Cheese | Turkey, Shredded Cheese | Roast Beef, Sliced Cheese | Turkey Pepperoni, Shredded Cheese |
Grains (2 oz. eq. daily min) |
WG Bread | Baked Doritos | Wheat Thin Crackers | WG Wrap | WG Bagel |
Fruits (1 cup daily min) |
Applesauce | Pears | Banana | Kiwi | Mandarin Oranges |
Vegetables (1 cup daily min) |
|||||
Dark Green (½ cup/week) |
Broccoli Florets | Shredded Lettuce | Romaine Lettuce | - | - |
Red/Orange (1 ¼ cup/week) |
Carrots | Salsa | - | Tomato Slices | Tomato Sauce |
Beans (½ cup/week) |
- | - | Crunchy Garbanzo Beans | - | - |
Starchy (½ cup/week) |
- | Corn | - | - | - |
Other Vegetables (¾ cup/week) |
- | Olives | - | Cucumbers | Snap Peas |
Additional (1 ½ cup/week) |
- | - | - | Pickles | - |
Other Foods | |||||
Milk (1 cup/day) |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
Condiments | Ranch | Sour Cream | Ranch | Mayo Packet | - |
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
Eggs |
Strawberry Parfait |
Taco Salad |
PB Banana Sandwich |
English Muffin |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Components | |||||
Meat/Meat Alternatives (2 oz. eq. daily min) |
Hard Boiled Eggs, Cheese Stick | Vanilla Greek yogurt | Shredded Cheese | Peanut Butter, Cheese Stick | Greek Yogurt |
Grains (2 oz. eq. daily min) |
WG Pretzels | WG granola | Baked Doritos | WG Bread | WG English muffin |
Fruits (1 cup daily min) |
Apple | Strawberries | Pears | Banana | Kiwi |
Vegetables (1 cup daily min) |
|||||
Dark Green (½ cup/week) |
- | - | Romaine Lettuce | - | Broccoli Florets |
Red/Orange (1 ¼ cup/week) |
Carrot Sticks | - | - | Grape Tomatoes | Bell Peppers |
Beans (½ cup/week) |
Hummus | - | Black Beans | - | - |
Starchy (½ cup/week) |
- | - | Corn | - | - |
Other Vegetables (¾ cup/week) |
- | Cucumbers, Cauliflower Florets | - | Snap Peas | - |
Additional (1 ½ cup/week) |
- | - | - | - | - |
Other Foods | |||||
Milk (1 cup/day) |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
1%: Unflavored Fat Free: Flavored or Unflavored = 1 cup |
Condiments | Ranch | Ranch | Sour Cream | Ranch | Ranch, PB, or Cream Cheese |
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