The St. Matthew School Nutrition Program offers nutritious breakfasts and lunches which meet USDA Nutrition Standards. Proper nutrition is fundamental for the success of your student’s academic progress.
Breakfast will be served as a “grab and go” option from 7:45AM – 8:00AM. Students who are wishing to eat school breakfast will enter the building at their assigned door and walk to the cafeteria as if they were getting in the lunch line. In the cafeteria, they will speak to the adult in charge to provide their name, take their breakfast and report to their classroom to eat. Students should eat breakfast at their assigned desk location.
Lunch Shifts
- 11:10AM - Junior Kindergarten & Kindergarten
- 11:45AM – 1st Grade & 2nd Grade
- 12:20PM – 3rd Grade, 4th Grade & 5th Grade
Any amount of money may be put into your family account. Families with more than one student share one family account. The money value of each meal purchased in the cafeteria will be deducted from your account using a computerized cashiering system. Lunch money may be dropped off in the main office or in the classroom. We are in the process of evaluating an on-line system which would allow you to put money in your family account from home via credit card. Updates will be forthcoming.
Meal Pricing 2020/2021 School Year
Breakfast: $1.90 Lunch: $3.00
Reduced: $ .30 Reduced: $ .40
Second Entrée $ .75 Second Entrée: $ .75
Second Fruit: $ .25 Second Fruit, Veggie or Grain: $ .25
Second Juice: $ .50 Second Milk: $ .55
Second Milk: $ .55
Students receiving free or reduced meals – If you want to purchase seconds on the main item, extra milk or a milk for your cold lunch, money must be put into your account to be used for those items.
Guest Lunches
In order to comply with CDC and Linn County Health Department guidelines for Covid-19, guest lunches will NOT be an option under any circumstances for the foreseeable future.
Offer vs. Serve
Offer vs. Serve is a provision that allows students to decline items on the menu that they do not intend to eat. As a result, we can reduce food waste while allowing students to select only the foods they wish to eat. Studies have shown children are more likely to eat—and gain the most nutrition from—the foods they choose. Students can always select all the foods offered as part of the menu—for the same price as fewer foods—and are encouraged to do so.
The lunch room monitors (Mrs. Conlon and Staff) remind the children to simply try the food items they have chosen, but in no way force any student to eat or even try something against their will.
Good Choices for the Student
The children need to take 3 out of the 5 food components with Offer vs. Serve at lunch. One of the food components must be a fruit or vegetable. Students need to take 3 out of 4 items at breakfast. One item must be fruit or fruit juice. The ideal would be for students to take each item offered on the menu.
When the students come to lunch, they are faced with the decision—what, if anything to decline. Naturally we would like the student to take the entire planned meal; however, with offer vs. serve, they can decline 1 or 2 items. This is where reviewing the menu each month with your child(ren) would provide the opportunity to discuss making good choices and/or trying new foods.
We offer seconds on our main dish to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. If you don’t want your student to have seconds, please contact us. Seconds are allowed only when the student has eaten the majority of everything on their tray.
All students are able to purchase a second milk. The cost is $0.55
Our alternative choice to the main dish is a deli sandwich using a whole grain bread and a yogurt or cheese stick.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
Kember Nelson
Food Service Director
Civil Rights in Iowa Child Nutrition Programs
It is the policy of St. Matthew School not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or religion in its programs, activities or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.7. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by St. Matthew School, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St., Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; web site:
http://www.state.ia.us/government/crc/index.html.