Food Services
Dedicated to enhancing Philadelphia’s educational experience by offering nutritious daily meals to students.
Our programs ensure that students are nourished and ready to learn by providing healthy, high-quality meals every day. We take pride in fueling academic success by offering nutritious options that support students’ well-being and growth.
Find Your School Menu
View current menus, filter for allergies, see nutrition information, and more.
Download the free Nutrislice App today.
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Check Out What’s on the Menu Today!
Explore your school menu and find nutrition information in the Nutrislice app or on the web at philasd.nutrislice.com.
How to Give Menu Feedback
Do you want to help shape your school menu? Provide menu feedback through Nutrislice.
- Find your school, and click on the meal type.
- Locate what you ate in your cafeteria and click on it.
- Once you click on the star rating, a box will appear where you can also provide optional comments, your name and email address.
- Let us know what you like and what’s going right!
Nutrition Information
Our menus are planned with student preferences in mind by Registered Dietitians while following the Federal Requirements for reimbursable meals. Our food standards for all schools include foods lower in fat, sodium, and sugar, and higher in fiber, lean protein, and whole grain-rich foods. We have a comprehensive list of ingredients that we don’t allow in our meals so that we can provide the highest quality meals to the students we serve.
Vegetarian Items
We understand and support the benefits of a vegetarian diet; because of this, we offer a vegetarian option daily.
- We menu a rotation of salads, dairy-based protein entrees, and various bean dishes to ensure we incorporate a wide range of options for all students.
- In 2022, our satellite meal provider, Whitsons Culinary Group, began partnering with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to increase healthy, sustainable plant-based menu offerings to K-12 school districts through a program called Veggabóls. The program aims to offer 33% plant-based menu items on their school menus by 2025.
Nutrition Content
Information provided through Nutrislice about the nutrient content of the meals served in our school cafeterias should be used as a general guideline rather than as a guide for exact nutrient content.
Please note:
- Ingredient and menu items are subject to change without notice.
- Manufacturers change formulations, suppliers substitute products, cooks may improvise on recipes, and servers may be imprecise in portioning.
- All of these factors will affect the exact nutrient content of a meal.
- Further, weighted averages are used for all of the daily milk, fruit, and fresh vegetable choices.
Recipes used in menus include the average condiments that might be taken with that item. (For example, the nutrient analysis of chicken nuggets includes the amount of BBQ sauce and ketchup taken by the average student.)
Please consult a medical professional for assistance in planning for or treating medical conditions.
Prohibited Ingredients
- All Pork Products
- MSG
- Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
- Artificial Flavors
- Artificial Coloring
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Sugar Free Sweeteners
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Sugars > 6 gm/oz (dry cereals)
- ADA
- BHA
- BHT
- Lean Finely Textured Beef
- Bromated Flour
- Trans Fat
Accommodating Students with Disabling Special Dietary Needs
Schools participating in a Federal Child Nutrition Program (School Lunch, School Breakfast or After School Snack Program) are required to make accommodations for children who are unable to eat school meals because of a disability that restricts their diet. In order to make modifications or substitutions to the school meal, schools must have a written Medical Statement on file that is signed by a licensed physician. Click here for the Medical Plan of Care for School Food Service.
Find Your School Menu
View current menus, filter for allergies, see nutrition information, and more.
Download the free Nutrislice App today.
|
|
Breakfast Meal Programs
Breakfast After the Bell
Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, all School District of Philadelphia schools are implementing Breakfast After the Bell. As part of Accelerate Philly Strategic Action 1.10, every school will offer breakfast after the school day begins so that students who arrive on time can enjoy a nutritious breakfast at no charge without missing valuable instructional time.
- Traditional before-school breakfast service will also remain available for students who arrive early.
- Breakfast After the Bell may look different at each school depending on its bell schedule and meal-service model. Please contact your child’s school for its breakfast service model and serving times.
Three Breakfast Service Models
Hallway Grab-and-Go
Students pick up breakfast from a cart in the hallway on the way to class and eat in their classroom.
Breakfast Carts at Classroom Doors
Food Services staff bring breakfast carts to groups of classrooms so students can pick up a meal and return to class.
Breakfast in the Classroom
Meals are delivered or brought to the classroom in crates or bags. Students eat in class while staff record meal participation.
After School Meal Programs
The After School Meals Program is designed to offer a nutritious meal to students enrolled in an after-school program.
Summer Meal Programs
The Summer Meals Program is designed to offer a nutritious meal to students enrolled in a summer program operating in an approved School District of Philadelphia Building.
Additional Meal Programs
Our meals are planned by Registered Dietitians with student preferences in mind all while following the Federal Requirements for reimbursable meals. Our food standards for all schools include foods lower in fat, sodium, and sugar, and higher in fiber, lean protein, and whole grain-rich foods. We have a comprehensive list of ingredients that we don’t allow in our meals so that we can provide the highest quality meals to the students we serve.
For questions e-mail foodsetup@philasd.org or call 215-400-FOOD(3663)
Lunch Program
The National School Lunch Program provides healthy lunch meals to help enhance students’ readiness to learn.
Saturday Meals
Meals served on the weekend may be reimbursable if the activity is an integral part of the curriculum or an actual extension of the local educational program and not simply a school-affiliated extracurricular event.
Requirements & Application Process for Schools
Requirements
- Meals may be reimbursable if the Saturday activity is an integral part of the curriculum as determined by the state education agency.
- Care must be taken to ensure that accurate records are maintained.
Application
- Please allow two to three weeks prior to the start of the program to process paperwork with the state.
- Once your program is approved, your on-site food service staff will be in touch with you to discuss the details to ensure the meals are served in compliance with Federal guidelines.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a federally assisted program providing free fresh fruits and vegetables to students in participating elementary schools (K-6) during the school day. The district has participated in the program for over 15 years.
Requirements & Application Process for Schools
FFVP Application is currently closed
Food Safety Inspections
Food Safety Inspections are conducted twice a year by the Philadelphia Department of Health, Office of Food Protection.
- Click here to find the Food Safety Inspection Report for your school
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- To locate the school you are interested in, type the school name in the keyword field.
- To limit your search to only schools, select Facility Type School
- Understanding the Food Safety Inspection Report
Our Partners
American Dairy Association North East
American Dairy Association North East is a longtime advocate of supporting the “whole child”. Their goal is to increase students’ access to nutritious USDA-compliant school meals, while promoting a healthy balance through the daily inclusion of milk, yogurt, and cheese, as well as fruits, vegetables, and grains. Learn more.
Temple- Rise Lab
- Research in Implementation Science to Enhance Equity
- Implementation of School Meal Policies- project aims to identify what works well and what needs improvement in the implementation and participation of the universal school meals program in the School District of Philadelphia. Learn more.
Urban School Food Alliance
The Urban School Food Alliance, formed in 2012, helps major school districts improve food quality, reduce costs, and adopt eco-friendly practices. Serving over 3.7 million children daily in 5,500+ schools, they provide nearly 631 million meals annually. Their mission is to ensure all public school students receive nutritious meals. Learn more.
Rebel Ventures
The Office of Food Services, in collaboration with Whitsons Culinary Group, Strawberry Mansion High School CTE Culinary Arts, and Rebel Ventures (a University-Assisted Community Schools program), announces the launch of Rebel Ventures Urban Philly Goulash in November 2026, designed by student chefs at Strawberry Mansion High School.
This innovative, multi-partner initiative empowers Philadelphia high school students to create, scale, and market their own nutritious school meals. With guidance from professional culinary teams, student chefs developed a bold, hearty dish inspired by local tastes.
Follow these Philly high school students turned entrepreneurs through the development and creation of the Rebel Crumble in their test kitchen to mass production and packaging of this healthy breakfast item!
Follow Rebel Ventures on Instagram @rebel_ventures
Be sure to watch their instastories about the latest adventures in the kitchen on Wednesdays
FAQs
I need a Letter Verifying my child qualifies for Free Meals
There are a few different programs: Comcast, T-Mobile, and Summer Camps that ask for a letter to verify your student qualifies for free and reduced meals. The attached letter can be used to verify enrollment in a District school and that all students qualify for free meals in the School District of Philadelphia click here.
How much does breakfast or lunch cost?
Students attending a School District of Philadelphia school are offered a breakfast and a lunch meal at no cost daily.
What do I need to fill out to be qualified for free or reduced-priced meals this school year?
Families no longer need to fill out the meal application. All students in the District will be offered breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to the students. Teachers and Staff are still required to pay for meals.
My child cannot drink milk. Is there another option?
Lactaid milk is available in all schools at breakfast and lunch for children who are lactose intolerant. Students can also opt to choose juice when juice is on the menu. In addition, the school allows access to water at all meals per NSLP regulations.
Do your meals contain pork?
As a rule, the District does not menu pork. Items that are typically made with pork, such as sausage, ham, and pepperoni are made with turkey, beef, or chicken instead.
How can your meals be healthy with items like pizza, chicken nuggets, french toast sticks, and hotdogs?
Even though our menu items may sound like the popular restaurant versions, they are very different. Our meals are specially formulated to be lower in fat, sodium, and sugar, and higher in fiber to comply with federal school meals regulations. We use lean protein and low-fat cheeses, and all our grains are whole grain-rich.
Highlights:
- When you see pizza on the menu, it’s not your typical pizzeria pizza. Our version has a whole grain crust, ¼ cup of red/orange vegetables, and low-fat cheese.
- Our nuggets, chicken products, and “fries” are baked, not fried, and all breading is whole grain.
- French toast sticks, a product jointly procured with members of the Urban School Food Alliance, have been improved to remove prohibited ingredients, lower the sugar content, and provide more whole grains.
- Our hot dogs are made with lean beef, chicken, and turkey, and served on a whole-grain bun.
- All entrees are served with fruit, vegetables, and low-fat or fat-free milk.
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 a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), 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:
- mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
- fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
- email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.