Free Summer Meals 2024
June 27-August 30. Even when school is out, you can still enjoy free breakfast and lunch! Our 2024 Free Summer Meals Program is here for you all across New York City, and it's totally free for anyone who's 18 years old or younger. You can find these meals at specific places like select NYC Public Schools, community pool centers, parks, and libraries. And guess what? You don't need to sign up, show any papers, or have an ID to get these meals. Just head to one of our spots and enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch. Have a great summer filled with good food and fun!
Help Get The Word Out About Free Summer Meals
To help support outreach to families about this program, a Summer Meals Toolkit has been created to access flyers that can be passed out, social media images and social media text available to post. These items (available in all NYCPS languages) have free summer meals program details printed on them, which serve as a guide to families wishing to participate in the Free Summer Meals program.
Menus
We offer free breakfast, lunch, and afterschool meals to all NYC Public School students during the school year. Use the Find A School tool (Search the school and look under Free Student Meals) or speak to your School Food Service Manager to discover what menus are being served at your school. Visit our menu page to learn more about our standards and how we develop menus.
Food Service InfoHub Resources
Need answers to your food service-related questions? Check out the Food Resources for Schools page.
Afterschool Meals and Special Programs
These services include afterschool snack, supper, weekend or holiday services. To start a program, you can apply by emailing sf-specialprograms@schools.nyc.gov, calling 718-707-4320, or logging into your account.
Charter and Non-Public School Food Service
Food service is available for new Charter and Non-Public Schools. To request service, visit our Charter and Non-Public Schools page for more information or call 718-707-4320 for assistance.
Nutritional Standards and Food Allergens
Our goals to ensure students of all ages and backgrounds have access to tasty, nutrient-rich meals that enhance their learning experiences. Seeing students succeed in school and beyond is what drives our passion to serve high-quality meals. Visit our Menu Nutritional Information page to view nutrition and menu standards, prohibited ingredients, menu nutritional information and food allergen awareness.
Milk Options
Under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, milk must be available to students as part of their meal. We provide low fat milk, non-fat milk, and non-fat chocolate milk. Schools that do not wish to serve chocolate milk as an option should speak with their School Food Service Manager.
Kosher and Halal Meal Service Request
Kosher Meals
Kosher school meals may be available upon request and with prior registration. Parents/guardians may reach out to the school administration regarding Kosher meal service for your child.
Halal food options are available at every school.
An expanded certified Halal menu is available upon request through our Halal Food Program. Parents/guardians may reach out to the school administration regarding expanded certified Halal meal service for your school community.
The Halal Food Program was created to strengthen food equity for children in NYC schools. The program applies the highest standard of Halal to satisfy all Muslim students regardless of which Islamic theology, jurisprudence, and opinions they follow. School Principal(s) may request the Halal Food Program through their School Food Service Manager. A school’s kitchen must be inspected and in compliance with a Halal Food Safety Management system with integrity from Farm to Fork to become certified and permitted to offer and serve Halal food products. Throughout the school year all certified schools will partake in announced and unannounced maintenance inspections to affirm Halal product and food handler integrity.
Competitive Snack and Beverage Standards
Effective February 2010, only foods and beverages that meet the New York City Department of Education Office of Food and Nutrition Services guidelines may be offered for sale during school hours. Approved items can be sold during school hours but not at lunch service times. For more information on approved snack products, ingredients, portion sizes, and other information, visit the NYC Public School Snack and Beverage Vending Service page.
Food Programs
We offer a variety of food service programs to students throughout the school day. These programs range from Breakfast in the Classroom, Breakfast After the Bell, Farm to School to Infant - Toddler. Visit our Food Programs webpage to learn more about all our services.
DOH Reports
The NYCDOH inspects all school cafeterias and kitchens. NYC law requires that all school buildings are inspected at least two times per school year. Inspection data is refreshed on the first of each month and includes results from the past 36 months. Use the Find A School tool (Search the school and look under Free Student Meals) to view.
Contact Office of Food & Nutrition Services
For more information about our menus, nutrition information, approved foods to be sold in schools, programs, questions or comments email us at SFWebsitesuggestion@schools.nyc.gov. Please provide your name and email address when responding.