Food Services

Sun Bucks is a program of the State of California to provide food to families and children when school it out for the Summer. To view information about Sun BUCKS, and to see if your children qualify, please visit this link.

"In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (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 (PDF), 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.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider."

Salinas City Elementary School District will provide after-school snacks at nine sites and summer breakfasts and lunches for all Salinas residents ages 18 and under at six sites; the summer program runs through July 24. Please note that all food offered during the summer must be consumed on site, and there is no grab-and-go option available.

For the 2025-26 school year, we will offer meals to all students at no charge at all of the District’s 15 schools, regardless of income. It is imperative that an income form be filled out at the beginning of the school year, as it assists the District in obtaining grant funding and state and federal dollars to assist in providing high-quality and nutritious food to our students.

ChooseMyPlate.gov provides practical information to individuals, health professionals, nutrition educators, and the food industry to help consumers build healthier diets with resources and tools for dietary assessment, nutrition education, and other user-friendly nutrition information.

Learn more about building a healthy plate at www.myplate.gov

Salinas City Elementary School District is committed to the optimal development of every student.

The Governing Board recognizes the link between students’ health and learning and for all students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success.

The Board shall assign a committee to provide for a complete food service program in grades K-6 in accordance with Federal and State nutrition standards and regulations including the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Furthermore, the program shall coordinate and align district efforts to support students’ wellness through physical education, activity coordination, nutrition education and services in a safe and healthy school environment.

Committee membership will represent all school levels and shall be open to the community to join such as, but not limited to: parents, teachers/administrators, health professionals, school staff, students and community leaders. To become a member in the wellness committee please contact Salinas City Elementary School District Food Service Department at 831-753-5618.

To read the District's Wellness Policy, please click on this link.

To read the District's Triennial Assessment, please click on this link.

The Salinas City Elementary School District (SCESD) tries to avoid products having peanuts or other nuts as an ingredient, but SCESD cannot guarantee that foods purchased have not been in contact with peanuts or other nuts during manufacturing or that food served in the general lunch program is allergen free.  In response to parental requests that SCESD identify ingredients in the products used by SCESD’s cafeterias, SCESD hereby attaches an Allergen Tolerance Report.  This Report is provided for informational purposes only and is intended to serve as a resource guide, not an authoritative source. It is not a guarantee of all ingredients in all foods. Products stocked by SCESD change due to supplier changes or substitutions.  Manufacturers may also change formulation and ingredient profiles without the knowledge of SCESD.  Significantly, the information provided in the attached Allergen Tolerance Report is not intended to replace the advice of any physician or healthcare professional regarding allergen exposures.

Please note that SCESD is not responsible for and cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of the information contained in the attached Allergen Tolerance Report; this information is presented to SCESD’s Food Services Department through its manufacturers.  This information is neither generated nor assembled by SCESD and, therefore, SCESD shall not assume or accept any liability for errors, omissions or substitutions made by the respective manufacturers.  For students with severe allergies, it is strongly suggested that parents have a marked menu signed by a recognized medical authority for the cafeteria staff to follow or are encouraged to bring meals from home.  SCESD cannot guarantee that a student will never experience an allergy related event while at school.

Below please find two important forms: the first is titled Medical Statement to Request Special Meals or Accommodations, and the second is a Request for Fluid Milk Substitution. 

Because meals—including breakfast, second-chance breakfast, lunch and snacks—are free for all SCESD students, parents or guardians only need to add money to an account if a student wants to obtain a second meal while at school. This is a necessary step because no District cafeterias accept cash payments.

Teachers or other staff who eat in the cafeteria may use this link to add money to their accounts. 

Meals sold or served at schools meet strict state and federal requirements which are based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines and include increasing the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains,  fat-free and low fat fluid milk.  We are reducing the levels of sodium and saturated fat while still meeting all the nutritional needs of school children within their calorie range requirements.

 Fruits and Vegetables dressed in a variety of color, textures and flavors draw attention to our "show stopping" salad bars as students are encouraged to make healthy choices and try new foods.

To check on your school's upcoming menus, please use this link to navigate to myschoolmenus.com.