What are à la carte foods and drinks?
A. À la carte foods and drinks are anything sold separately from the reimbursable school meal. À la carte items can be a carton of low-fat milk, a second entrée, or a cookie, for example. When students select à la carte items in addition to the reimbursable school meal, there is an additional charge. Schools do not receive reimbursement from the USDA for the sales of à la carte foods and drinks, and a la carte sales are not included in free and reduced price pricing of foods. Students who receive free or reduced price meals must pay full price for à la carte items purchased.
