Food Services

Menus | About Food Services | Food Allergy Information | Meal Charge and Prohibition Against Meal Shaming

Free breakfast and lunch is available to all Herkimer Central School District students for the 2024-25 school year under the Community Eligibility Provision. Learn more and complete an Income Eligibility Form.

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Elementary Breakfast

Available daily: yogurt, assorted cold whole grain cereals, fresh fruit, chilled fruit juice, ice cold New York State milk, yogurt parfait.

Elementary Lunch

Available daily: Fresh entrée salads, party plates, assorted subs & sandwiches, peanut butter & jelly sandwich, assorted fresh fruit and fruit juice, vegetable cruncher cups, ice cold New York State milk.

Middle-High School Breakfast

Available daily: yogurt, assorted cold whole grain cereals, whole grain Pop-Tarts, Zee Zee bars, assorted cereal bars, fresh fruit, chilled fruit juice, ice cold New York State milk.

Middle-High School Lunch

Available daily: Fresh entrée salads, party plates, assorted subs & sandwiches, peanut butter & jelly sandwich, assorted fresh fruit and fruit juice, vegetable cruncher cups, ice cold New York State milk.

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About Food Services at Herkimer CSD

Herkimer Central School District utilizes the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Food Service Program.

Free breakfast and lunch is available to all Herkimer Central School District students under the Community Eligibility Provision.

Families do not need to fill out a free/reduced meal application, but it is helpful to your district if you take a few minutes to fill out the income eligibility form.

Completing the Income Eligibility Form

A la Carte Items

Beyond FREE meals, additional items such as chips, drinks or ice cream may be offered for purchase. Please visit ezschoolpay.com to see your student’s account activity and add money to their account if you choose.

EZSchoolPay

Please sign up for an ezschoolpay.com account! This is an excellent way to monitor your children’s meals and a la carte purchases. These accounts are free to set up and use; you can even set up email reminders for when a balance gets low! If you choose to use them for prepayment, a small fee is incurred with each transaction.

OHM BOCES strives to provide students with tasty, nutritious, fresh, foods that appeal to students and the school community. The food service has continually exceeded federal and state guidelines for all required nutrients and increased our offerings of fresh fruit and vegetables. Farm-to-school items and programming are improving our students’ connections to fresh food and resources. The menu balances student preference, commodity foods and locally sourced foods that are fresh, fun and encourage students to explore new flavors and new preparations.

All students have their own meal account with an assigned pin number. Please be sure to help your children learn their numbers; especially if they are new participants. You can also use this account to make payments for a la carte items; checks made out to OHM BOCES Food Service, or online prepayments are preferable, though cash in a labeled envelope is also an option.

OHM BOCES staff in your district take great care in providing nutritious, well-balanced meals, including whole grains, lean proteins and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. OHM school nutrition professionals have extensive food safety training, make accommodations for students with food allergies and have the skills and knowledge to ensure a safe and healthy experience for all. Please don’t hesitate to contact the OHM BOCES Food Service School Food Service Director/ Registered Dietitian Kate Dorr.

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Food Allergy Information

Allergen information for menu items is available. If you have a food allergy, please notify the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Food Service program. Contact School Food Service Director/Registered Dietitian Kate Dorr.

All food service establishments must post a food allergen notice for staff, according to SECTION 1356 of Public Health Law.

The details of the food allergen notice for staff are also included below:

If a Student Says They Have a Food Allergy

• Take it seriously. Allergic reactions can be life-threatening.
• Be ready to discuss ingredients and food preparation with the customer.
• Communicate the allergy to the kitchen staff.
• Let the student know when you are unsure if a menu item contains the food allergen.
• Always let the student make their own informed decision.

Prevent Cross-Contact

• Keep allergen-containing foods separate from other foods.
• Avoid shortcuts, such as picking nuts out of a salad. Even a tiny amount of an allergen can cause a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction.
• Consider all sources of cross-contact, such as shared surfaces, fryer oils, and cooking splatter.

Before Preparing Allergy-free Foods

• Wash, rinse, and sanitize, or change: utensils, cutting boards, and food-contact surfaces.
• Wash your hands and change gloves.

If a student has an allergic reaction, call 9-1-1.

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Meal Charge and Prohibition Against Meal Shaming Plan

The Oneida Herkimer Madison BOCES Food Service Program aims to provide students with nutritious, low or no-cost meals daily without stigmatizing those with unpaid meal fees. This policy ensures compliance with USDA and New York State regulations and oversees the collection of unpaid meal balances while preventing student embarrassment. It applies to regular reimbursable meals and prohibits charging for non-reimbursable items such as a la carte and adult meals, ensuring students are treated equally regardless of payment status.

View the full Meal Charge and Prohibition Against Meal Shaming Plan.

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