New Mexico School Nutrition Association Annual Conference Offer vs Serve New Mexico School Nutrition Association Annual Conference Albuquerque – June 4, 2019 Kendal Chavez, Farm to School Specialist/Nutritionist

101: What is OVS? OVS is a strategy that: Allows students to decline some food components or food items, and select foods they intend to eat Reduces food waste and its impact on school food cost Is mandatory in the NSLP for high schools only Is optional in SBP (all grades) and NSLP-Seamless Summer Option

Key OVS Concepts Food components (groups) Food item is a specific food offered within each food component Schools may offer one food item within a component Grains: Choose one - bagel, cold cereal, or muffin Schools may offer multiple food items within a component Fruits: Choose up to three – ½ cup peaches, fresh orange, apple, ½ cup apple juice Food components (groups) NSLP: Milk, Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, and Meat/Meat Alternate (M/MA) SBP: Milk, Fruits, Grains Schools must offer the amounts specified in the meal patterns daily/weekly

Menu Planning for OVS Breakfast Lunch School Must offer 3 food components daily Milk, fruits, grains Offer at least 4 food items Students Must select at least 3 food items, including: ½ cup fruits (vegetable as substitute) School Must offer 5 food components daily Milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, M/MA Students Must select at least 3 food components, including: ½ cup fruit and/or vegetable

Common Mistakes

Offer vs Serve: Guidance for the NSLP and the SBP Choice is not OVS “Offering choices within components does not constitute OVS. If students are required to select every component, the SFA is not using OVS. Students must be allowed to decline components (except ½ cup serving of fruit and/or vegetable).” Offer vs Serve: Guidance for the NSLP and the SBP

Pre-Serving is not OVS “If OVS is in place students must be able to decline items they do not want and select the minimum required amounts for at least three food components, including a fruit or vegetable. One option is for students to pre-order the entrée and choose the side dishes at the point of service.” Policy Memo SP 10-2012 (v.9)

Salad Bar Post-POS is not OVS “…Un-monitored salad bars after the POS are considered extra food that cannot contribute toward the reimbursable meal, but counts toward the dietary specifications. For the vegetable subgroups to count, the school has to establish a monitoring mechanism [approved by the State agency].” Policy Memo SP 31-2013

Discussion: What are real-life examples of OVS?

New Mexico Spotlight

Albuquerque Public Schools

Mountainair Public Schools

Santa Fe Public Schools

Digging In: OVS at Lunch

OVS at Lunch School Must offer 5 food components daily Students Milk Fruits Vegetables Grains M/MA Students Must select at least 3 food components, including ½ cup fruit and/or vegetable

Remember…Menu planners must offer minimum portion sizes Vegetables Fruit

Reimbursable Lunch Worksheet Discussion questions: What is the role of the menu planner in setting expectations for OVS at this school site? What are other vegetables that can be substituted in this meal? Which, if any, of the 3 students selected the appropriate quantities for a reimbursable meal?

Communicating OVS to Students and Staff

Signage

Signage

Kendal Chavez Kendal.Chavez@state.nm.us (505) 827-1807 Thank you! Kendal Chavez Kendal.Chavez@state.nm.us (505) 827-1807