Culinary & Wellness Services

True Food

Minneapolis Public Schools Culinary & Wellness Services strives to create an environment where students can develop positive eating habits, understand how food fuels the body, and experience the flavors of our local and global cultures.

• We believe True Food is the key to developing and maintaining the long term health of our students – physically, mentally, and academically.
• Our True Food approach means students receive whole foods like grains, fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy that contribute necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in natural forms.
• We are committed to improving the quality of food served in schools by selecting products without artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners, unnecessary additives, or unnatural ingredients.
• We hope to impact students’ health and decrease the risk of chronic disease by limiting the amount of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in our menu items.
• MPS CWS supports our regional food system, community, and environment by consciously seeking sustainable food sources, investing in local farms, and purchasing from local businesses.

MPS CWS provides meals that support students with allergies, intolerances, and disabilities. MPS Health Services staff and CWS staff collaborate to provide appropriate options for students. All dietary needs are managed by the MPS CWS Dietitian.

Request Dietary Accomodations

• Most dietary needs require a Special Diet Statement to be completed by the student’s healthcare provider.
• MPS is peanut and tree nut aware meaning there are NO peanuts or tree nuts served in school meals.
• Lactose-free milk can be provided after a parent or guardian completes the request form.
• Meatless meals are available daily to everyone at all schools. We cannot accommodate requests for vegan meals due to USDA meal pattern requirements.
• Detailed menu information, including nutrition facts and allergens, is available online for families and staff to review.

A colorful taste of fresh fruits and vegetables!

Learn more about Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

Students in qualifying elementary schools have a chance to taste a fresh fruit or vegetable in their classroom through the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). The goal of this program is to expose students to a variety of produce and increase excitement for trying healthy foods. 

Each month, the FFVP menu features a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, giving students the opportunity to try and learn about new foods. Nutrition education is provided for growing minds to learn about the menu items history, nutritional value, agriculture, and other fun facts. FFVP is served most days per week.

All food and drink items served to students during the school day should meet the USDA’s Smart Snack guidelines. 

Order Smart Snacks

Smart Snacks will be delivered directly to your school’s kitchen for easy pick-up. Make the healthy choice the easy choice for our students!

Serving up Minnesota’s finest every month!

On Minnesota Thursdays, we set the table with a delicious, locally sourced meal. Minnesota Thursdays feature unique and emerging food makers plus the best of our locally sourced, seasonal produce and proteins raised sustainably in our region.

Learn more about Minnesota Thursday 

• Minnesota Thursdays celebrate the diverse and vibrant culinary traditions of MPS families.
• MPS purchases foods from dozens of local farms and food makers to create MN Thursday menus.
• Minnesota Thursday meals seek to build strength in our local and regional food systems through local purchasing. They also allow us opportunities to try new recipes, expand variety, and invite our whole community to the table to share a meal together.

Check our monthly menus to see this month's #MNThurs!

Try the recipes we serve to students at home!

We are constantly developing new food offerings based on feedback from students, staff, and families. Some of these recipes have become so popular that we've scaled them for home use for our MPS families. 

Recipes

Our food education programs, such as classroom cooking, True Food Farm, and school gardens, enable young people to connect the food they eat to the way it was grown and how it makes them feel. Learning how food is integrated and central to our world views and experiences will foster student resiliency, community inclusivity, and a culture of wellbeing.

Food Education Resources

A science-based tool

View Ingredient Guide

MPS CWS used science-based research to create our Ingredient Guide, a resource for improving the overall quality, nutritional value, and safety of the food provided to our students. This tool provides clear direction when evaluating ingredients in new products and menu items. We continually monitor and review research on ingredients that have potential to be overused or cause unfavorable side effects.  

The beginning of the 2023-24 school year included a landmark moment for Minnesota school meals as the Free School Meals for Kids law was enacted. All students receive one complete breakfast and one complete lunch each school day at no cost. 

Did you know?

• Eating school meals helps to support Minneapolis Public Schools and the greater community! The more meals that MPS serves, the better for the district. The same applies to other districts in Minnesota. We encourage all students to participate in the Free Meals Program by eating meals at school!

Meal Accounts on LINQ Connect

On LINQ Connect, you can manage payments for students' meal accounts, and view detailed menus in your preferred language, including nutrition facts and allergens. Registration is not required to view school menus. 

Register for a LINQ Connect account

Meal Prices

Thanks to Minnesota's Free School Meals Law, every student receives one complete breakfast meal and one complete lunch meal each school day at no cost.

Students wishing to purchase extra meals, sides, or milk must have money available in their school meal account. Meals served to teachers, staff, and other adults are not free and must be purchased. 

Every Family, Every Year

• generate millions of dollars in funding for MPS and our schools, students and families.
• determine benefits for students and families like free bus cards and discounted internet service. 

The income thresholds are higher than for some programs, so many families are surprised to find they DO qualify for benefits. If you wish to decline benefits, do so on the paper application, or email info.cws@mpls.k12.mn.us with their student's names.

An eligibility notice letter will arrive via mail or email within 10 business days of completing your application.

Families, please help your students get ready for the school year by learning their PIN (same as student ID). Students enter their PIN number in the meal line.

• PIN practice: English
• PIN practice: Español
• PIN practice: Soomaali
• PIN practice: Hmoob

A collaborative effort bringing lifelong benefits

CWS supports walking, biking, and rolling to, from, and while at school. We work with internal and external partners to make walking and rolling safe, easy, and fun. Together, we are building a healthier, happier, more connected city for children and therefore for everyone.

Learn more about Safe Routes to School

Our students deserve the best, so we serve them fresh, locally grown ingredients.

MPS works hard to source locally grown fruits and vegetables, plus proteins, grains, dairy products and baked goods. We’re proud to partner with a diverse group of small and mid-size farmers and producers in our region, including farmers of color, immigrants, woman-owned farms and beginning farmers.

Learn more about Farm to School program

Meals and snacks outside the school day

Hunger doesn’t take a vacation. Whether it’s summer, after school, or on school release days, ALL kids 18 and under can visit participating community sites for no-cost, healthy meals and snacks from Minneapolis Public Schools. Children do not need to attend Minneapolis Public Schools to participate.

To see where we’re currently serving out-of-school meals and snacks, visit the web page:

Community Sites 

And if you’d like to partner with us to serve no-cost food to youth, you will find resources here as well.

The goal of True Food, No Waste is to reduce waste in cafeterias by making operational changes and providing schools with resources to educate and engage students on waste reduction, recycling, and composting.

Learn more at:

Waste Reduction 

Empowering students to build healthy bodies and minds

The Culinary & Wellness Team is dedicated to empowering families, staff, and students to actively participate in wellness initiatives. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at MPS True Food for activities that promote safe routes, nutritious eating, and nature-based wellness. Join our mission to nurture all children through access to quality food and active living.

Learn more about our Wellness Program

A meaningful way to provide experiential education

Gardens can transform classroom curriculum into hands-on, interactive learning. Minneapolis Public Schools is home to over thirty school gardens, and that number grows every year! These gardens provide opportunities for students to be active participants in the local food system, grow their knowledge and skills, and build classroom community.

School Garden Resources

If your school is interested in starting a school garden, email Jaime.Harris@mpls.k12.mn.us, Student Wellness Coordinator, and complete the Gardens on School Property Request Form.

Garden to Cafeteria

Through our Garden to Cafeteria program, participating school gardens sell produce to their schools' cafeterias. To learn more about participating in the Garden to Cafeteria Program, email Jaime.Harris@mpls.k12.mn.us Student Wellness Coordinator.

Garden to Cafeteria resources and forms 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

(1) Mail:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) Fax: (833)256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

True Food Catering takes pride in creating foods with a variety of tastes and flavors that reflect our district’s nutrition parameters and commitment to serving delicious, whole, minimally processed foods, while providing excellent customer service. All catering proceeds directly support access to quality food and active living for all MPS students. Order today at MPS.Catertrax.com!

True Food Catering Menu (PDF) | 612-668-5259 | catering@mpls.k12.mn.us

MPS Culinary & Wellness' Street Eats 2 food truck provides students with healthy food choices at schools, community sites, events, and over summer break. Contact Alicia Dusel-Huerta, Catering Supervisor, to schedule.