Meals & Menus
School City of Mishawaka understands that a balanced and nutritional diet is important to health, wellness, and education of each student. Our mission is to provide nutritionally balanced meals according to the USDA National School Breakfast and Lunch requirements at a reasonable cost to students, staff, and guests.
Below are helpful resources so you and your child are knowledgeable and prepared about breakfast and lunch being offered throughout our school corporation.
- Meal Costs
- Meal Service Times
- Menus
- MySchoolBucks
- Nutrition Resources
- Offer Versus Serve (OVS) at Breakfast & Lunch
Meal Costs
FREE Meals for ALL SCM Students in 2025–2026
Great news! All students enrolled in School City of Mishawaka (SCM) schools will receive FREE breakfast and lunch every school day during the 2025–2026 school year — thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
- No applications.
- No meal fees.
- No worries.
A la carte items (extra snacks and drinks) will still be available for purchase. Payments can be made with cash, check, or through MySchoolBucks.
📋 Why You Still Need to Fill Out the Alternate Income Form
Even though meals are free, it’s crucial that all families complete the Alternate Income Form by August 13, 2025. This form helps SCM qualify for additional state and federal funding that supports your child’s education.
💡 What the Form Helps With:
- Direct Student Benefits:
- Reduced AP, SAT, and ACT test fees
- Waived college application fees
- Eligibility for summer meal programs
- School & District Benefits:
- More funding for classroom resources, technology, and academic programs
- Qualification for Title I support
- More staff like counselors and intervention specialists
- Access to grants for enrichment programs
Filling out this form ensures we continue receiving these important supports — regardless of your income.
📝 How to Fill Out the Alternate Income Form
- Visit myschoolapps.com
- Enter zip code 46544 or choose Indiana from the state list, then click Search.
- Select School City of Mishawaka, then click Select District & Continue.
- Click Begin Application Process.
- Agree to the Terms & Use to proceed.
- Complete the form with your household information.
💬 Need help? Contact:
Lisa Thompson, Administrative Assistant
📞 574-254-4545 | ✉️ thompsonli@mishawaka.k12.in.us
Prefer a paper form? Reach out to us and we’ll help you get one.
🎯 Don’t Miss the Deadline:
Submit the Alternate Income Form by August 13, 2025.
Help us continue to bring free meals and critical resources to all SCM students!
Meal Service Times
|
BUILDING
|
BREAKFAST
|
LUNCH
|
| Battell Elementary School | 8:05 AM - 8:25 AM | 10:45 AM - 1:15 PM |
| Beiger Elementary School | 8:05 AM - 8:25 AM | 10:55 AM - 1:05 PM |
| Emmons Elementary School | 8:05 AM - 8:25 AM | 10:55 AM - 1:05 PM |
| Hums Elementary School | 8:05 AM - 8:25 AM | 10:45 AM - 12:55 PM |
| LaSalle Elementary School | 8:05 AM - 8:25 AM | 10:40 AM - 1:10 PM |
| Liberty Elementary School | 8:05 AM - 8:25 AM | 11:00 AM - 1:15 PM |
| Twin Branch Elementary School | 8:05 AM - 8:25 AM | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM |
| John Young Middle School | 7:50 AM - 8:10 AM | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM |
| Mishawaka High School | 7:30 AM - 7:55 AM | 10:50 AM - 1:15 PM |
Menus
Menus may change without notice due to changing availability of food items from vendors. We are doing our best to ensure students receive the items listed on the menu. If that is not possible, students will still receive a complete nutritious meal.
All meals come with choices of milk, fruit, and juice (some days).
| Elementary Breakfast |
JYMS Breakfast |
MHS Breakfast |
| Elementary Lunch |
JYMS Lunch |
MHS Lunch |
Menus are subject to change. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
MySchoolBucks
Make school lunch deposits and monitor your student’s account online at www.myschoolbucks.com.
From this site you will create your account and can add money to your child’s school meal account. All you need is your child’s name, student ID number and school ZIP code.
Things to know:
- If you have more than one child in the District you can handle all online prepayments from the same online account.
- Payments may be made through an existing PayPal account or with a major credit or debit card.
In order to use the online prepayment service, a small convenience fee for each transaction will be assessed to cover the bank fees. The convenience fee is $3.50 (with credit card) or $2.75 (with e-check) per deposit transaction. Parents placing money into multiple meal accounts will only be assessed the $3.50 or $2.75 fee once per deposit transaction. School City of Mishawaka does not profit from the use of this site.
If you prefer, you can send cash or check with your child to school to deposit in your child's school lunch account.
Questions? Please call the Food Service Department at 574-254–4508.
Nutrition Resources
Offer Versus Serve (OVS) at Breakfast & Lunch
Our school nutrition department participates in the National School Lunch Program and implements Offer versus Serve. Offer versus Serve allows students to decline some of the food offered as part of a complete meal. The goals of Offer versus Serve are to reduce food waste in the school nutrition programs and to allow students more customization of the meal they select. For general OVS guidelines, please click the images below.
Offer Versus Serve (OVS) at BREAKFAST
Our school nutrition department participates in the School Breakfast Program, and implements Offer versus Serve. OVS allows students to decline some of the food offered as part of a complete meal. The goals of OVS are to reduce food waste in the school nutrition programs and to allow students more customization of the meal they select. For general OVS guidelines, please read the Understanding the Breakfast Line section below.
Understanding the Breakfast Line
At breakfast, all students have the opportunity to take, at a minimum, milk, fruit, and grains. We also may add protein and vegetables to the breakfast offerings. While the most nutritious breakfast contains all of the offered items, we understand that sometimes our students do not like some of the items we serve. To make our customers happy, we like to give them the option to decline items they do not want to eat.
For breakfast, students must choose at least three offered items for their meal. One of the items selected must be a fruit or vegetable.
Example Menu for Breakfast*
Egg Sandwich on a Biscuit (noted here as one item)
1/2 cup Seasoned Potatoes
1 cup Strawberries
8oz of Milk
With Offer versus Serve at breakfast, your student could choose:
● Seasoned Potatoes, Strawberries, and Milk (Vegetable + Fruit + Milk)
● Biscuit Sandwich, Strawberries, and Milk (Grain + Fruit + Milk)
● Biscuit Sandwich, Strawberries, and Seasoned Potatoes (Grain + Fruit + Vegetable)
Even though the school participates in Offer versus Serve, students are not required to decline items and can take all items offered. The choice is up to them! If your student comes home and says they did not get enough to eat at breakfast, ask if they are taking all of the items offered to them. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Director of Food Service, Linda Cupp at cuppl@mishawaka.k12.in.us if you have any questions about the menu.
*Keep in mind that some cafeterias offer multiple options within each food group and many offer different serving styles such as breakfast in the classroom. Talk with our team if you have any questions about the choices your student has at breakfast.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Offer Versus Serve (OVS) at LUNCH
Our school nutrition department participates in the National School Lunch Program, and implements Offer versus Serve. Offer versus Serve allows students to decline some of the food offered as part of a complete meal. The goals of Offer versus Serve are to reduce food waste in the school nutrition programs and to allow students more customization of the meal they select. For general OVS guidelines, please read the Understanding the Lunch Line section below.
Understanding the Lunch Line
All schools are required by USDA guidelines to have adequate signage posted in the cafeteria and on the serving line to help explain how students can create a complete meal. The friendly staff at your child’s school are happy to help as well.
At lunch, all students have the opportunity to choose from menu items that fall within five important food groups, including milk, protein, fruits, vegetables, and grains. While the most nutritious lunch contains all of the offered items, we understand that sometimes our students do not like some of the items we serve. To make our customers happy, we like to give them the option to decline items they do not want to eat.
Out of the five food groups your student is offered, they must choose at least three food groups to make a complete meal. One of the selections must be at least ½ cup of fruit or vegetable. Students who do not create a complete meal will be charged a la carte pricing for the items selected.
Example Menu for Lunch*
Chicken Soft Taco
1/2 cup Black Beans
1/2 cup Fiesta Corn
1/2 cup Strawberries
1/2 cup Diced Peaches
8oz of Milk
With Offer Versus Serve at lunch, your student could choose:
● Chicken Soft Taco and Fiesta Corn (Protein + Grain + Vegetable = 3 food groups)
● Chicken Soft Taco, Strawberries, and Milk (Protein + Grain + Fruit + Milk = 4 food groups)
● Black Beans, Fiesta Corn, Strawberries, Milk (Vegetable + Vegetable + Fruit + Milk = 3 food groups)
Even though the school participates in Offer versus Serve, students are not required to decline items, in fact they’re encouraged to take all five food groups, but the choice is up to them! If your student comes home and says they did not get enough to eat at lunch, ask if they are taking all of the food group offerings. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Director of Food Service, Linda Cupp at cuppl@mishawaka.k12.in.us if you have any questions about the offered menu.
*Keep in mind that some cafeterias offer multiple options within each food group. Sitting down with young children to review the menu ahead of time will help ensure they are prepared as they come to the cafeteria for lunch.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.