Offer versus Serve for School Nutrition Programs

Required Signage for OVS

School food authorities (SFAs) must post two different types of cafeteria signage. This signage must clearly communicate the meal components for each daily menu choice and indicate what students must select for a reimbursable meal.

  1. Identify foods and amounts offered for all planned reimbursable meals: Section 7 CFR 210.10(a)(2) of the NSLP regulations and section 7 CFR 220.8(a)(2) of the SBP regulations require that SFAs must post signage to identify the planned reimbursable meals (i.e., all offered full meals), including the meal components and portions and any choices or combination of choices available within each meal component. This signage must be located near or at the beginning of each serving line. Note: This requirement applies to all schools and institutions, including those that do not implement offer OVS and those that implement family-style meal service.
  2. Identify required student selections for reimbursable meals with OVS: Schools that implement OVS must indicate the minimum amount of each meal component (lunch) or food item (breakfast) that students must select for a reimbursable meal, based on the planned daily menu for each grade group. This signage must be posted at all applicable points in the serving line where the meal components or food items are available. For example, if the high school lunch menu offers fruits and vegetables in ½-cup servings and allows students to select two servings of fruits and two servings of vegetables to meet the required 1-cup serving for grades 9-12, the cafeteria signage must clearly communicate that students may select up to two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables with each meal. This signage must be located on the serving line where the fruit and vegetable options are available.  

SFAs may choose how to identify the foods that are part of reimbursable meals, based on their facilities, layout, and other considerations. Some examples of acceptable signage include menu boards, posters, signs, labels, and table tents.

Guidance on Signage Requirements

Signage Resources