Nutrition Services

The Francis Howell School District participates in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. This allows families the opportunity to apply for Free and Reduced Price Meal Benefits.

To receive free or reduced-price meals for your child(ren), please refer to the Eligibility Income Chart. Children from families whose current income is at or below those shown are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility. Families are required to reapply for the Free and Reduced meal program each school year.

The Free and Reduced Meals application can now be completed and submitted online. Visit the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to complete the online application. A parent portal account must be established before applying. For more information about the application process or to complete a printed version, please view the The Free and Reduced Meals Letter and Public Release. Translated versions of the letter can be found here.

Note: Families may apply at any time throughout the school year. Families approved and receiving benefits, wishing to continue receiving benefits, must submit a new meal application within the first 30-days of the beginning of each school year. Please contact Bina Patel at 636-851-6054 with any questions.

Printed Free and Reduced Meal applications should be returned to the Nutrition Service Office:

Francis Howell Nutrition Service
4606 Central School Road
Saint Charles, MO 63304
(636) 851-6054

All schools that participate in the federal meals programs are required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to have written policies to inform parents about procedures regarding meal debt. District Policy 5550 maintains consistent meal account procedures throughout the District. The District’s contracted nutrition service vendor is responsible for maintaining food charge records and for notifying the District’s accounting department of outstanding balances. For more information, view a copy of Policy 5550.

Free and Reduced Meal Application

Have you ever been unable to concentrate because you were hungry?  Did you know there are students in Francis Howell School District who are not able to purchase a lunch while at school?

To address this need, FHSD has created a Lunch Heroes program. The Lunch Heroes program allows for donations from community members and District staff to support students when they no longer have funds in their lunch accounts. To provide lunch for a student for a month the cost is approximately $50.00.

Our goal is to work together with parents to make sure that all students are able to receive a hot lunch. Individuals who wish to donate to the Lunch Heroes program can do so by visiting the District web store.

If your child will be graduating or leaving the District, families can also opt to donate the balance to the Lunch Heroes program. Donate a lunch account balance.

FHSD Wellness Program is to help establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn.  This includes establishing standards for all food and beverages sold or provided to students during the school day and nutrition education. Our Wellness Committee is open to parents and community members who want to support healthy schools. Learn more by viewing the District Wellness Policy and Triennial Assessment Scorecard.

From the Food Service tool in Campus Parent, limits can be customized for single item restrictions, daily limit restrictions or to block ala carte purchases.

The Francis Howell School District and Sodexo, our food service provider have been working very closely with the Health Department to ensure that our food service practices meet the revised, recommended guidelines due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Unfortunately, at this time the option to purchase birthday treat/class party food options will not be available based on guidance from the Health Department. Francis Howell Board policy also prohibits outside food to be brought into school due to food allergies. Our classroom teachers will collaborate with families that wish to celebrate their child’s birthday at school through alternative, non-food celebrations. Thank you for understanding and continuing to support a safe and healthy environment for our school community.

USDA reimburses schools for meals that meet specific meal patterns and nutrition guidelines. USDA nutrition guidelines are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. School systems have different options for developing menus with reimbursable meals. Each meal will be some combination of a meat/meat alternate, bread/grain, fruit/vegetable and milk. For example, lunch could include spaghetti with meat sauce, canned peaches, salad and milk. Breakfast could include cereal, toast and milk.

Parents, guardians, and students can access meal menus and nutritional information for all schools on the District’s Nutrislice website. The site includes detailed nutritional values for all cafeteria items, including calories, allergens, and other information. For additional questions, please call 636-851-6054.

The District serves very healthy meals!  Research shows that students who eat school lunch eat less fat than students who bring their lunch from home. Students who eat school lunch eat more fruits, vegetables and drink more milk. They are less likely to drink soda and fruit drinks. As a part of the National School Lunch Program, FHSD is required to serve whole grains, low fats, colorful fruits and vegetables with many healthy and flavorful options.

Funds can be added to your child’s lunch account from Campus Parent Food Service tool. If you do not have access to the Campus Parent, cash or check can be sent to school with your child, or you can contact Food Services to make a credit card payment.

Your child’s lunch balance will be displayed on the home page of Campus Parent, with additional detailed information available in the Food Service tool.

The Food Service tool in Campus Parent allows you to see what meals and food items were purchased. Once in the Food Service tool, select your account name and a screen will display with all of your account’s details, including items purchased, deposits and adjustments.

From the Notification Settings in Campus Portal, you can set thresholds to receive notifications when a lunch balance falls below the selected dollar amount. Nutrition Services can also set up weekly automated low balance reminders.

Our priority is to make sure all students are fed each day. Families who seek financial assistance should first complete a Free- and Reduced-Price Meal Application, and then reach out to their child’s school counselor for additional support. When any PreK-12th grade student's meal account exceeds negative $25, they will be offered an alternative meal which may include a Sun Butter and Jelly Sandwich (similar to peanut butter but made with sunflower seeds), along with a fruit or vegetable side choice and milk. The cost will be added to the student's balance. Students with negative lunch account balances are also not allowed to purchase ala carte items in the cafeteria until the balance is paid. To make a lunch account payment, visit the Infinite Campus Portal.

Any money remaining in student meal accounts 12 months after the student is unenrolled will be donated and transferred into the Lunch Heroes account.  For any questions please contact Bina Patel at 636-851-6054.

Schools participating in the federal child nutrition programs are required to make accommodations for children who are unable to eat the school meals because of a disability that restricts their diet. On a case-by-case basis, a child with a disability shall be provided substitutions in foods at no extra charge only when supported by a Medical Statement signed by a medical professional.

Contact the District’s food service provider, Sodexo, at 636-851-6054.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.