The Saco School Nutrition staff pride themselves in serving your children nutritious meals. In public schools in Maine, youth have access to FREE breakfast and lunch, which meet nutrition standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Although there is no charge, parents will be asked to complete the economic status questions during online registration as the data provided is used to determine our school funding, including Title 1 funds for special education programs, before/after and summer school programs; discounts on laptop insurance and internet; and teacher's student loan forgiveness.

Are you eligible to receive $120 for each of your school-aged child(ren)?

Many children face hunger during the summer when they lose access to school meals.  This year, there are several ways to combat summer hunger, including Summer EBT SUN Bucks ($120 per school-aged child), open meal sites for those 18 and younger, free food distributions through Youth Full Maine, and delivery meal service for those in rural areas.  

What type of meals are served to students?

Our school cafeterias meet strict federal nutrition standards for school meals, ensuring that meals are well-balanced and provide students with the nutrition they need to succeed at school. These guidelines include age-appropriate calorie limits, whole grains, larger servings of vegetables and fruits (students must select at least one serving), a wider variety of vegetables (including dark greens and red/orange vegetables and legumes), and fat-free or 1% Oakhurst milk.

What are the most popular meals?

We strive to provide homemade meals that are popular with children, including homemade mac and cheese and other pasta dishes, shepherd’s pie, roast turkey dinner, tacos, brunch for lunch, and mandarin orange chicken over brown rice. The pizza we serve is made with whole-grain crust and low-fat mozzarella cheese, as are the cheese-filled “Bosco” breadsticks with marinara dipping sauce- a student favorite. Chicken tenders, nuggets, and sandwiches offer Tyson antibiotic-free chicken, with whole-grain breading especially made for schools, as well as Rich Chicks clean-label chicken.

Do students have vegetarian options?

Vegetarian choices are available at lunch, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (or sun butter and jelly sandwiches at Pre-K, Fairfield, and Young Schools). Also popular with students are a school-made “munchable”, consisting of whole-grain crackers, hummus, low-fat cheese stick, and veggie sticks. Whenever possible, we serve local produce purchased from Native Maine Produce and are partnering with local farmers during the growing season to purchase and serve local produce.

Please see the Wellness Policy Assessment Document found here.

Non-Discriminatory & Civil Rights Information/Department of Education

For questions regarding meal benefit applications, contact Sue Morrell, Nutrition Program Director, at (207) 282-0211.