Why are there à la carte foods in addition to school meals?
A. Child Nutrition Programs must generate revenue to pay for food, supplies, equipment, indirect costs and salaries. The USDA reimbursement is only a supplemental payment, which does not cover the entire operating costs of the program. Therefore, some NC school systems sell à la carte foods and drinks in addition to school meals. There is no USDA reimbursement for à la carte items and there are limited items in elementary schools.
