Food Services

To add money to your student's meal account, you may add money electronically or deposit cash or check at the school office.

To add money electronically, start by logging into Skyward Family Access

Once in Skyward:

1. Go to Food Service
2. Make a payment (key is next to name)
3. Select one time payment or set up auto replenish
4. Put in dollar amount
5. Add to cart
6. Check out

If you have not set up a RevTrak account it will direct you to do so.

Please note there is some delay from the time of payment until it is seen in Skyward updates. There are times the mobile app doesn't operate as well when loading lunch money so a desktop is a better option for this process. 

Metro North and Southwood Elementary participate in the After School Snack Program, a federally-assisted snack program that provides school snacks to children after the regular school day. This program is an extension of the National School Lunch Program. 

Families who qualify for free or reduced meals must apply before the start of the school year. The application will be available after July 1. Applications received prior to July 1 will not count towards the upcoming school year.

Income Eligibility Guidelines

All of our cafeterias serve breakfast.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast provides you with the energy and nutrients that lead to increased concentration in the classroom. Studies show that breakfast can be important in maintaining a healthy body weight. 

Hunger sets in long before it's time for lunch, but because it's not convenient to eat properly, many people who have not eaten breakfast snack on foods that are high in fat and sugar. Please who skip breakfast are unlikely to make up their daily requirements for some vitamins and minerals that a simple breakfast would have provided. Breakfast provides energy for the activities during the morning and helps to prevent that mid-morning slump. 

Health information is obtained from parents after the student is registered. If a food allergy or sensitivity is noted, the food services team will be notified. An alert will be added to the students id tag, which alerts the food services staff of the student's dietary restriction when they scan their id card at the start of the meal line. The Food Services team will then adjust the student's meal accordingly.

For a true food allergy that requires action like Benadryl or Epi Pen, an individualized health plan will be requested from the student's health provider.   

For food sensitivities, such as dairy intolerance, health provider documentation is not necessarily required. Food alternatives such as soy milk are available to students with food sensitivities. 

Every day each student is offered a lunch containing meat (or meat alternate), grain, fruit, vegetable and milk. Here is an example of an elementary lunch menu:

• Cheeseburger on a Bun
• 1/2 Cup Carrots
• 1/2 Cup French Fries
• 1/2 Cup Peaches
• 8 oz Milk

While the most nutritious lunch contains all of these options, we understand that sometimes our students do not like some of the items we serve, so we give them the option to decline items they do not want to eat.

Out of the five food groups the student is offered, they must choose at least three food groups for their meal. One of the food groups must be a fruit or vegetable. Some of the menu choices may count as two food groups.

If your child comes home and says they did not get enough to eat at lunch, ask if they are taking all of the fruit and vegetable choices. Also remember that breakfast is served every morning and is a great way to kick off your student's day!

Every day students are offered options for all five components of their lunch, which includes milk, protein, fruits, vegetables, and grains. While the most nutritious lunch contains all of the options, we understand that sometimes our students do not like some of the items we serve. To make our customers happy, we like to give them the option to decline items they do not want to eat. In order to be in compliance with Offer vs. Serve standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), students are required to take at least three components for their meal. One of these must be at least ½ cup of fruit or vegetable.

All schools are required by USDA guidelines to have adequate signage posted in the cafeteria and on the serving line to help explain how students can create a complete meal.

While students are encouraged to take milk, they are allowed to decline this component if they choose due to USDA’s Offer vs. Serve requirements.

USDA regulations do not allow schools to tell a student to take more food if there is enough on the tray to make a meal.