Partners provide program participants and staff with healthy, hearty lunches and snacks. Ensuring that young people's nutritional needs are met during out-of-school time is an important part of our program model.
On this page you will find many ideas and recipes that will help us achieve our goals -- adding choice and diversity, while increasing the protein and nutritional value of the meals we serve.
Our partners often ask how much to serve and how to plan for the quantities needed. We recommend one recipe or manufacturer defined serving per elementary aged child and 1.5-2 servings per middle school aged child, teen and adult staff member of the main dish. Vegetables will be consumed in less quantity. We have listed several websites that will help you adapt your recipe to serving a large group. For additional assistance, please contact Betsy.
“Build your own” meals
- Tacos with ground beef or turkey meat, cheese, lettuce, beans, salsa
- Chili with ground beef or turkey, cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips
- Baked potatoes, cheese, sour cream, broccoli, chili (no bacon)
- Wraps, salad, chicken or turkey, cheese (no ham)
- Burritos, rice, beans, meat, eggs, salsa, cheese, guacamole, sour cream
- Fajitas, meat, cheese, peppers/onions, salsa
- Build your own burger, cheese, lettuce, tomato, ketchup
- Make your own sundaes for dessert
- Build a salad (including a protein: chicken, egg, beans, cheese, veggies)
Other meal recommendations
- Chicken Kabobs
- Black Beans And Rice
- Chicken and rice casserole
- Tex Mex lasagna
- Sloppy Joes
- Grilled Cheese
- Tortilla Soup
- Pita Pizzas
- Pizza
- Meatball subs (no pork)
- Spaghetti, sauce, meatballs (no pork)
- Alfredo chicken and broccoli
- Baked chicken chimichangas or enchiladas
- Cheese or chicken quesadillas
- Turkey Hot dogs (no pork)
- Pulled bar-b-que chicken sandwiches (no pork)
- Fried rice
- Chicken nachos
- Tuna cheesies
Vegetarian Meals/Modifications
- Tacos with cheese, lettuce, beans, salsa
- Vegetarian chili, cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips or corn bread
- Baked potatoes, cheese, sour cream, broccoli, vegetarian chili
- Wraps/ Roll ups, salad, cheese, veggies
- Egg and cheese sandwiches
- Burritos, rice, beans, eggs, salsa, cheese, guacamole, sour cream
- Fajitas, beans, cheese, peppers/onions, salsa
- Fried Rice
- Tex-Mex Lasagna
- Sloppy Joe’s made with beans
- English muffin or bagel pizzas
- Pizza
- Pasta with marinara sauce
- Pasta, broccoli, Alfredo sauce
- Baked cheese and bean enchiladas
- Cheese and vegetable quesadillas
- Nachos with beans and cheese
- Grilled cheese
- Vegetable, Tomato Soup, or Rustic Tomato Soup
Side dish suggestions (All vegetarian)
- Fresh fruit (clementines, grapes, pineapple, watermelon)
- Fresh fruit salad/skewers
- Fresh vegetables (carrots, peppers, celery sticks)
- Green salad
- Corn & Black Bean Salad
- Corn bread
- Macaroni and cheese
- Applesauce