Image
School Meals
Learn about school meals, such as what’s included, using SchoolCafé to find breakfast and lunch menus, and how to pay.
On this page
Our district strives to provide nutritious and delicious meals to all of our students.
What’s included in a meal?
Choose 3-5 options for a full lunch meal:
- an entrée
- one selection of fruit, two selections of fruit in high school
- two selections of vegetables
- a grain/bread which may be part of the entrée or separate
- milk
Choose 3-4 options for a full breakfast meal:
- two entrées which is a combination of grain/bread and meat
- two selections of fruit or juice
- milk
How much do meals cost?
Families will pay a different amount based on meal type, age, and school:
- Breakfast - $1.75
- Elementary Lunch - $2.95
- Middle School Lunch - $2.95
- High School Lunch - $3.25
- Reduced Breakfast - $0.00
- Reduced Lunch - $0.40
CEP schools provide free breakfast and lunch meals for all students. For more information about CEP, see the Free and Reduced Price Meals page.
Price details
Expand AllElementary food prices
Non-CEP school meals
- Breakfast - $1.75
- Lunch - $2.95
A La Carte prices (CEP and Non-CEP)
If a student chooses to get individual items, the A La Carte prices are:
- Breakfast entree - $1.25
- Lunch entree - $2.25
- 2nd lunch entree (with meal) - $2
- Bread/roll - $ 0.50
- Milk - $ 0.75
- Fruit or vegetable - $ 0.85
Extras (CEP and Non-CEP)
Cafeterias have snack items in addition to meal options:
- Mini rice krispie treats - $0.25
- Homemade cookie - $0.50 (chocolate chip or sugar)
- Bagged snacks - $0.75 (Scooby Doo, Cheezits, Goldfish, Bear Grahams, D&J Ed snacks)
- Bottled water - $1
- Misc. Snacks - $1 (Nutrigrain bar, Chewy bar, pop-tart, fruit snacks)
- Ice cream - $1 (sticks and ice cream cups)
- Chips/Snack mix - $1 (Chips, Funyuns, Chex Mix, Munchies, popcorn)
- Wrapped cookie - $1.25 (triple chocolate, confetti, grandma's)
- Large rice krispie treats - $1.25
- Pirate's Booty/Big Cereal Bar - $1.50
- Premium ice cream - $1.75 (Cones, sandwiches, juice cups, twister cups, push pops)
Middle School food prices
Non-CEP school meals
- Breakfast - $1.75
- Lunch - $2.95
A La Carte (CEP and Non-CEP)
If a student chooses to get items by themselves, the A La Carte prices are:
- Breakfast entree - $1.25
- Lunch entree - $2.25
- 2nd lunch entree (with meal) - $2
- Bread/roll - $ 0.50
- Milk - $ 0.75
- Fruit or vegetable - $ 0.85
Extras (CEP and Non-CEP)
Cafeterias have snack items in addition to meal options:
- Mini rice krispie treats - $0.25
- Homemade cookie - $0.50 (chocolate chip or sugar)
- Bagged snacks - $0.75 (Scooby Doo, Cheezits, Goldfish, Bear Grahams, D&J Ed snacks)
- Bottled water - $1
- Misc. Snacks - $1 (Nutrigrain bar, Chewy bar, Pop-tart, fruit snacks)
- Ice cream - $1 (sticks and ice cream cups)
- Chips/Snack mix - $1 (Chips, Funyuns, Chex Mix, Munchies, popcorn)
- Wrapped cookie - $1.25 (triple chocolate, confetti, Grandma's)
- Large rice krispie treats - $1.25
- Pirate's Booty/Big Cereal Bar - $1.50
- Premium ice cream - $1.75 (Cones, sandwiches, juice cups, twister cups, push pops)
- Can drink - $1.75
High School food prices
Non-CEP school meals
- Breakfast - $1.75
- Lunch - $3.25
A La Carte (CEP and Non-CEP)
If a student chooses to get items by themselves, the A La Carte prices are:
- Breakfast entree - $1.25
- Lunch entree - $2.50
- 2nd lunch entree (with meal) - $2
- Bread/roll - $ 0.50
- Milk - $ 0.75
- Fruit or vegetable - $ 0.85
Extras (CEP and Non-CEP)
- Mini rice krispie treats - $0.25
- Homemade cookie - $0.50 (chocolate chip or sugar)
- Bagged snacks - $0.75 (Scooby Doo, Cheezits, Goldfish, Bear Grahams, D&J Ed snacks)
- Bottled water - $1
- Misc. Snacks - $1 (Nutrigrain bar, Chewy bar, Pop-tart, fruit snacks)
- Ice cream - $1 (sticks and ice cream cups)
- Chips/Snack mix - $1 (Chips, Funyuns, Chex Mix, Munchies, popcorn)
- Wrapped cookie - $1.25 (triple chocolate, confetti, Grandma's)
- Large rice krispie treats - $1.25
- Pirate's Booty/Big Cereal Bar - $1.50
- Sports drink/can drink - $1.75
- Premium ice cream - $1.75 (Cones, sandwiches, juice cups, twister cups, push pops)
- Cold brew coffee - $2.50 ($1.50 with purchase of a meal)
Need a printable copy of prices or policies? See our fliers:
- Meal charge policy for Non-CEP campuses (PDF)
- ES Snack food prices 2024-25 (PDF)
- MS Snack food prices 2024-25 (PDF)
- HS Snack food prices 2024-25 (PDF)
- ES & MS ALC Food and Meal Pricing, Non-CEP (PDF)
- HS ALC Food and Meal Pricing, Non-CEP (PDF)
- ES & MS ALC Food Pricing, CEP (PDF)
- HS ALC Food Pricing, CEP (PDF)
SchoolCafé
SchoolCafé is our meal management service that allows families to see school menus, apply for Free/Reduced Price Meals, and provide income verification for CEP schools.
SchoolCafé can be accessed with the SchoolCafé app (to download the app on an Apple or Android smartphone, search for SchoolCafé in the app store) or the SchoolCafé website.
Frequently asked questions
Expand AllWhat is CEP and how does a school qualify?
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a federal program that allows districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Schools are qualified based on the percentage of enrolled students who are directly certified for free meals, most often through Medicaid or SNAP.
Do I need to complete an Application for Free or Reduced Priced Meals if my student is enrolled at a CEP school?
No, meals are served at all CEP school to all students at no cost regardless of income level. However, CEP families, please complete the Income Survey through SchoolCafé as that information is important for school education funding.
What is Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC)?
BIC is the breakfast service model for all CEP elementary schools. Through this program, breakfast is delivered to the classroom for all students prior to the start of the school day. The breakfast is generally eaten just after the first bell.
My student attends a non-CEP school, how do I apply for meal benefits?
There is a link to the Application for Free or Reduced Priced Meals through the Skyward Back to School Forms. You can download the SchoolCafé App or go directly to the SchoolCafé website. Please see the School Meals page for links and more details. There are also videos that will walk you through completing the application. Students that are directly certified for free meals do NOT need to complete a meal application.
How do I know if my student is directly certified for free or reduced meals?
Student Nutrition Services (SNS) emailed a 2024-2025 Direct Certification Notice to families on July 9, 2024. If your student(s) are directly certified for free meals, it is not necessary to complete an Application for Free or Reduced Priced Meals. If you have a student who was left off your 2024-2025 Direct Certification Notice, please call the Student Nutrition Services (SNS) Office at (972) 494-8322.
I have students in my household that attend a CEP and a non-CEP school. How do I receive meal benefits for my non-CEP student?
Please complete a household application via SchoolCafé. Be sure to include ALL members living in your household, including the students who attend CEP school.
My child has a medically documented food allergy. How do I request diet modifications for school meals?
A Diet Modification Request Form must be completed, signed by a licensed physician or medical provider and submitted to Seon Ervin, SNS Menu Coordinator. Student Nutrition Services (SNS) will also inform the school nurse. Allergy information submitted in Skyward will not suffice for a diet modification. Please see the Special Dietary Needs page for more information and forms. Modifications do not have to be submitted annually unless changes are required. Any additions or deletions to the Diet Modification Request Form must be submitted to SNS and signed by a licensed physician or medical provider.
How do I set other food restrictions for my student?
A la carte purchasing restrictions can be added to a student’s account via SchoolCafé. For food restrictions due to personal or religious preferences, please email Student Nutrition Services. Parents or legal guardians are the only people authorized to set food restrictions for students.
How do I add money to my student’s cafeteria account?
Funds can be added via SchoolCafé or through the SchoolCafé App. If you wish to avoid the processing fee, you may send a check or cash to your campus cafeteria. Please make the check out to your school cafeteria, for example “Abbett Cafeteria”.
What do I need to do if my student is transferring from another school district that is using SchoolCafé?
You will need to create an account with a different email address and choose Garland ISD as the district. Once the account is created, you can add students, make payments, and review purchases in SchoolCafé.
Where can I make a refund request?
Click the refund request link on your account in SchoolCafe, or you can send an email to refunds@garlandisd.net. Include your full name and your most current address, as well as the student’s name and ID number.
Menu Advisory Committee (MAC)
The Menu Advisory Committee (MAC) includes parents, students, and staff who review the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) to provide greater knowledge of USDA guidelines and regulations for daily meal service. The MAC provides feedback for future menus and helps plan the menus for the next school year.
The MAC meets about four times per year. During meetings, the committee will sample & critique recipes under consideration for use in the school year, and discuss the implementation of new programs.
Meetings will be held at the Padgett Auxiliary Services Center.
2024-25 MAC meeting schedule
Meetings start at 5:00 P.M.
- Sept. 23, 2024
- Nov. 4, 2024
- Feb. 10, 2025
- April 28, 2025
Contact(s): Craig Hempel
File a complaint
To file a Civil Rights Discrimination complaint, please complete the form below and mail to:
Director of Student Nutrition Services (SNS)
701 N First St, Garland TX 75040.
Contact us
For more information about school meals, contact:
Non Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: : (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.