CAFÉ LA!
WE ARE CAFÉ LA!
The Food Services Division of LAUSD
Café LA operates one of the largest School Breakfast Programs and the second largest National School Lunch Program in the United States. We serve over 530,000 meals each day, which include a healthy breakfast, lunch and supper after school. Under California's Universal Meals Program, all students can get breakfast and lunch free of charge daily. Our mission is “Nourishing Children to Achieve Excellence” and Café LA accomplishes this through various meal programs, multiple student-approved menu choices that provide healthy nutrients and energy to support the academic and physical growth of children.
Nutritional Information and Special Diets
Special Diets are provided to students with a disability or medical condition that limits a major life activity such as breathing or learning; or to students with severe or life-threatening food allergies.
A current LAUSD Special Diet Memo and Form must be completed and signed by Medical Authority. This form must be completed in its entirety and returned to school cafeteria. If the form is not complete, the special diet cannot be processed. This form must be updated annually.
If you need to discontinue a Special Diet for your child, please complete the Discontinue Special Diet Form.
Unfortunately, LAUSD is unable to accommodate special diets based on personal preferences or religious convictions.
Facts About Café LA
- Serves over 100 million meals a year, which includes over
- 225,000 breakfasts per day
- 255,000 lunches per day
- 45,000 supper and snack meals per day
- 240,000 summer meals per day
- Offer multiple daily options which include vegan and vegetarian choices
- Implemented the Save-It-For-Later program in schools to minimize food waste by allowing students to save non-perishable food items to eat outside the meal service period
- Every elementary school features a fresh fruit and vegetable bar daily to help students develop healthy eating habits
Los Angeles Unified is a CEP District
Los Angeles Unified is a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) district and families do not need to submit a meal application. Under the California Universal Meal Program, students do not pay for meals. If a student requests a second meal, then they are required to pay a la carte prices.
After School Snack Program
Under the National School Lunch Program, snacks can be served to children after their regular school day ends. The afterschool program must be organized, structured, supervised and approved by the district in order to receive snacks from Food Services.
Food Delivery Policy for Students
Effected July 15, 2024. The delivery of fast food/beverages for students is strictly prohibited as it is not consistent with school food service requirements, and it causes disruption to the school environment and the safety and well-being of students and employees
To be in compliance and ensure safety, the District does not permit food delivery services external food or beverages on campuses unless District-approved. Deliveries made to the school by delivery persons of any type who are not District-approved are not permitted and will be turned away.
For more information, please referred to bulletin BUL-154111.1.
EVERYONE EATS! yumyummi!Students are our #1 customer and Café LA uses their feedback to create menus that appeal to students. Our digital YumYummi App provides the menu listings for each school along with nutritional and allergen information. At food testing meetings, students evaluate new food items and the Food Services Division only includes items that are student approved.
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