Manatee County School District currently feeds over five million student lunches each year. The district consists of 41,000 students with 32 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 8 high schools. The department has a lunch participation rate of 80.05%. The Office of Food and Nutrition Services Department consists of over 350 full and part-time employees. Manatee County School Food Service program is a self-supporting program that has benefited the students, schools, and the community at large.

All schools offer several nutritionally balanced meals every day. The meals are planned by a registered dietician to ensure that the nutrient standards set by the {USDA} federal guidelines are met. The USDA nutrient standards are as follows:
•Lunch must meet one-third of the recommended Dietary Allowances for protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories.
•Breakfast must meet one-fourth of the recommended Dietary Allowances far the above nutrients and calories.
•When averaged over a school week, all school meals contain 30% or less of total calories from fat.
•When averaged over a school week, all school meals contain less than 10% of calories from saturated fat.
•When averaged over a school week, school meals reflect effort to reduce levels of sodium and cholesterol and to increase dietary fiber.

America's Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids