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Keller ISD nutrition coordinator outlines meal rules, partnerships and outreach

Keller Independent School District School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) · November 10, 2025
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Summary

Child Nutrition Coordinator Stephanie Grieving told SHAC about Keller ISD’s USDA‑funded meal programs run with Sodexo and SchoolCafe, meal component requirements, smart‑snack rules, pricing limits for reduced meals, and outreach to ensure eligible families apply for free or reduced meals.

Stephanie Grieving, Keller ISD’s child nutrition coordinator, presented an overview of the district’s school meal programs, federal requirements and local operations.

Grieving said Keller partners with Sodexo for food procurement and a third‑party platform, SchoolCafe, for family meal accounts and free/reduced meal applications. She summarized USDA meal pattern rules that determine reimbursable (complete) meals: at breakfast students must be offered three required items (including ½ cup fruit/vegetable or juice), and at lunch five components must be offered with students required to select three, one of which must be a ½ cup of fruit or vegetable.

She explained ‘offer versus serve’ (students may decline items to reduce waste), USDA weekly vegetable subgroup requirements, and smart‑snack nutrition and labeling standards for extra items sold or provided outside reimbursable meals. Grieving noted reduced‑price pricing limits (no more than 40¢ for lunch and 30¢ for breakfast) and said additional funding this school year means students who qualify for reduced price were receiving meals at no charge.

Grieving also encouraged families to apply for meal benefits — SNAP recipients automatically qualify — and said the state has reserves to continue reimbursements in the event of a federal government shutdown. She described cafeteria engagement programs (monthly promotions, Future Chef in March, fine dining for elementary campuses starting in January) and mentioned staffing/hiring needs for part‑time cafeteria roles.

The presentation was informational; no formal action was taken.