The image displays the text %22FOOD & NUTR%22 in large, bold blue letters against a white background.

School Meal Program

Elementary Student sits at a cafeteria table with a nutritious lunch tray

For the 2025-2026 school year, School District U-46 will again offer breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to all students at all U-46 schools.

For requests for vegetarian meal preferences, please note that options and resources are limited. For elementary schools, there are two options on the menu, one being vegetarian-based. These options will include egg and/or cheese. We are unable to accommodate strict vegetarian/vegan requests and/or preferences. Thank you for your understanding.

Please note that due to recent supply shortages, menu options are subject to change.

U-46 Food and Nutrition Department Homepage

Due to supply chain challenges, menus are subject to change. Our website will be updated to the best of our ability. If you have any menu questions, please call your student's school. In addition, due to the manufactured and handcrafted nature of our menu items, our kitchens which share cooking and preparation areas, and our reliance on suppliers for accurate information, we cannot eliminate the risk of cross-contact or guarantee that any item is free of any allergen.

Modified Meal Requests

Reasonable meal accommodations can be made for two different reasons, including a diagnosed medical condition or disability (food allergies or modified texture needs) or a dietary preference request for religious or cultural beliefs (vegetarian or plant-based).

Please note that our vegetarian items are milk and/or egg-based and our plant-based lunch choices are limited. We are unable to accommodate strict vegan preferences.

Below are links to the three Modified Meal Request forms, available in English and Spanish. Choose which form meets your student’s needs. Completed forms must be sent to U-46 Registered Dietitian Christine Cliff at christinecliff@u-46.org. Food & Nutrition Services aims for a 1-2 week turnaround upon receiving the completed forms. Parents or guardians should continue sending their child to school with meals from home until they receive confirmation from Food & Nutrition Services that we can accommodate the request.

· Medical Modified Meal Request Form

Complete if your student has a medical condition or disability that requires meal modifications, such as diagnosed food allergies or chewing/swallowing challenges where soft or pureed foods are required. In order for reasonable meal modifications to start, this form needs to be signed by a State Licensed Healthcare Professional (who is authorized to write medical prescriptions under Illinois law) or a Registered Dietitian. English | Spanish

· Preference Modified Meal Request Form

Complete if your student has a dietary preference (NOT a medical disability or condition), such as vegetarian only for religious beliefs. Please note that our vegetarian meals are milk and egg-based. This form does not need to be signed by a health professional. English | Spanish

· Plant-Based Lunch Request Form

Complete if your student has a religious or cultural preference that restricts the diet. This form is NOT for a medical disability or condition. Please note that our vegetarian meals are milk and egg-based. Food & Nutrition Services does not accept plant-based lunch request forms from third party companies. This form does not need to be signed by a health professional. English | Spanish

2025/2026 School Year Menus

Contents are subject to change.

Preschool Menus

pre-k breakfast & lunch menu april 2026- english

pre-k breakfast & lunch menu april 2026- spanish

Elementary Menus

elementary breakfast & lunch menu April 2026- english

elementary breakfast & lunch menu april 2026- spanish

elementary supper menu april 2026- english

elementary supper menu April 2026- spanish

Secondary Menus (Middle & High School)

secondary breakfast & lunch menus april 2026- english

secondary breakfast & lunch menus april 2026- spanish

Allergen, Carb & Sodium Information

Elementary/Secondary Carb Counts - 2025

Elementary Allergen & Carb Counts- 4/6/26 to 5/20/26

secondary allergen & carb counts- 4/6/26 to 5/20/26

Hot Elementary Breakfast Choices - Allergens, Carbs & Sodium

hot elementary breakfast choices - allergens, carbs & sodium

Milk - Allergens, Carbs & Sodium

Milk - allergens, carbs & sodium

Fee Waiver Requests

U-46 will again offer breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to all students at all U-46 schools. Although meal applications will not be required for the 2025-2026 school year, we recommend families complete the Fee Waiver Form, which can apply to athletic fees, driver’s education and more. 2025-2026 Fee Waiver Request Form (Versión en español aquí.) Please know that students are still allowed to bring lunch from home. The lunch provided for students at no cost is completely optional. For additional information on student fees please visit the Fee Waiver FAQ SY2025-26 or U-46 Registration Page.

*Parking permits, yearbook, and certain activity fees are not covered under fee waivers

Breakfast

The District is providing breakfast for all students as research supports that a child who starts the day with breakfast is more likely to be at school, a better learner, and willing to participate in the classroom. We encourage students to arrive at school in time to have breakfast before the start of school. Students who arrive after the bell will be offered a Grab & Go breakfast.

Milk Cartons

While meals are provided at no cost to families, individual milk cartons must be purchased when not consumed as part of a complete school breakfast or lunch meal provided through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program by the District’s Food and Nutrition Services Department.

The cost of individual milk is $.50 and must be purchased through the student’s MySchoolBuck account as cash is not accepted.

Use of Lunchrooms

In order to help maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students, and provide an ongoing clean and efficient school environment, we encourage students not to eat in the classroom. We provide time before the start of the school day for students to eat breakfast, and later in the day, a lunch break. Breakfast and lunch take place in the school’s lunchroom allowing us to ensure proper food distribution and sanitation.

Smart Snacks

The USDA requires that “smart snacks” are the only snacks provided to students during the USDA-defined school day hours, which are from midnight to 30 minutes after the end of the school day. The smart snack requirement does not apply to lunches brought from home. Vending machines, snack bars, and a la carte items available to high school students include only smart snacks. Use the online smart snack calculator for snacks at home.

Fundraising efforts taking place after the USDA-defined school day hours are not restricted to Smart Snacks Standards.

MySchoolBucks.com (A La Carte Items)

Community Food Pantries and Other Food Assistance Programs

In addition to the meals U-46 provides students, our area has a number of organizations that provide free food and meals. Information about those opportunities can be found through these sites:

The Find Food IL map, maintained by the University of Illinois Extension, helps residents find places in their communities offering free food or meals, stores and markets that accept food assistance, and more opportunities to help families stretch their household food budget.

The Northern Illinois Food Bank features the ability to search for food pantries and soup kitchens, and it also has a calendar for its “Mobile Markets,” which are drive-through events during which food is distributed. (Note that the website can be changed to many different languages by clicking on the accessibility link in the upper right hand corner, and clicking on the sixth button from left.)

Feeding Illinois offers the ability to search for food pantries and other free food assistance programs. It also provides links to other types of assistance, such as with housing and utility bills.

The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Food Connections website lists food banks and other providers of free food or meals.

The Kane County Health Department lists community organizations that provide food under the Food Resources & Nutrition tab on this page

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