Free and Reduced Meals Program
Apply for Free and Reduced Meals
Meridian participates the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to provide our families in need of assistant free and reduced meals. Applying is easy!
- Takes 5 minutes
- Completely confidential
- Full web security
- Apply anytime during current school year
- Not sure if you qualify? Check here.
Printable applications
What's included in Free and Reduced Meals?
Following the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program guidelines, the Meridian Café Crew will offer the following components as part of a complete meal:
School Breakfast Program:
- Whole Grain foods such as bread or cereal
- Fresh Fruit
- Milk
Students must select 1 grain, at least 1 fruit and 1 milk offering to complete their meal if they have chosen a complete or reimbursable meal.
Breakfast will be provided free of charge to Reduced Price Application families for the next year.
National School Lunch Program:
- Whole Grain foods such as Bread, Rice, Pasta
- Meat and Meat Alternates such as Lean Ground Turkey and Organic Tofu
- Vegetables in variety such as Beans, Leafy Greens and Tomatoes
- Fruit, Fresh, Frozen, or Canned in Juices
- Milk, Fat Free Skim or 1%
- Meridian also offers, Lactose Free 1% Milk or Oat Milk, for students with medically documented allergies or intolerance.
To create a complete meal, students and staff must choose a minimum of three components. One of the components must be a fruit or vegetable. K-5 students are served all 5 components daily.
Additional fruit and vegetables are always available at no charge to all students.
Any student or staff member who selects only one item or items that do not meet a complete meal will be charged à la carte, or individually for the items selected.
What's excluded from Free and Reduced Meals?
These items are not considered complete meals and do not qualify for Free and Reduced Meal status.
- Additional entrees
- Primary À La Carte Items: Juice and/or Bread Bakery item
- Secondary Students and Staff À La Carte Items: Items might include; IZZE drinks, chips, bars, juice, yogurt parfaits, hummus
If you choose for your student to not be allowed to purchase À La Carte Items, please email [email protected]. We can also set daily limits such as "one item per day."
If you ever have questions regarding the School Breakfast Program or the National School Lunch Program, please contact our Child Nutrition Director, Kaylee Torres at [email protected] or via phone at (512) 660-5256.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program that provides lunches to more than 3 million Texas children in school and residential child care institutions. The NSLP serves nutritious, low-cost or free lunches to students in public and non-profit private schools in Texas. Lunches must meet federal nutrition guidelines, and are reimbursable to schools based on number of meals served.