A cafeteria management solution for school and school districts’ is the best tool for serving students more efficiently and controlling costs. In addition, these solutions can be instrumental in helping to meet the many federal and state requirements and standards that apply to school cafeterias. With a cafeteria management system, you can:
Complete federal and state reimbursement reports with ease and accuracy.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program that operates in public and non-profit private schools and residential child care institutions. Administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of agriculture (USDA), it provides free and reduced-price school lunches to eligible K-12 students.
A cafeteria management system helps schools and school districts that participate in the NSLP automate the reporting process to receive cash subsidies for the reimbursable meals they serve. Reports can indicate individual student eligibility for the NSLP and other programs, such as Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). Other reports can document whether an individual student receives a free or reduced-price lunch under specific programs.
A cafeteria management system enables you produce and submit these reports in less time than would be needed to do so manually. Report accuracy is also increased by removing the potential for human error. Additionally, you can also use your system to generate any reports required by your state in order to participate in any school meal funding programs it may offer.
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Enjoy easy, effortless access to reports.
You also need detailed information for your own files to properly administer a school lunch, breakfast, or other reimbursed meal program. Your cafeteria management system makes accessing this documentation a breeze. You can get breakdowns of the number of free and reduced-price lunches served in your school or, for districts, each school. You can also review expenditures for each meal, and access names of students on free and reduced price lunch lists and their eligibility status.
Simplified inventory management and ingredient tracking to help follow school nutrition standards.
Participants in school meal programs must meet specific nutrition standards set by the FNS and USDA. This means schools need to have the right ingredients on hand, in the right quantities, to prepare the meals planned on the menu.
A cafeteria management system simplifies the inventory management and ingredient tracking necessary to adhere to school nutrition standards. It allows you to easily record and keep tabs on the quantities of approved ingredients used to prepare school meals. When quantities are depleted to pre-determined levels, the system can generate reorders, ensuring that the right ingredients are available when they’re needed — and avoid staff making unauthorized substitutions. Additionally, the system can be configured to prevent the ordering of ingredients and foods that don’t meet program guidelines.
Compliance with federal and state requirements can be a challenge for schools and school districts. A cafeteria management system turns the tough job of administering a school lunch or meal program into an easier one and providing a great return on your technology investment.
For more information about how school cafeteria management systems can help schools meet reporting requirements, contact Touch Dynamic.
