Child Nutrition

Welcome to the 2026-27 School Year!

Districtwide FREE Breakfast and Lunch for students!

CHILD NUTRITION ELIGIBILITY AND EDUCATION BENEFIT APPLICATION

ALL students in ALL schools in the Bethel School District qualify for free breakfast and lunch this year!
To help maintain our qualifications ALL Bethel School District families must complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application (CNEEB) at https://emealapps.bethelsd.org/ 
 

Free meals at our schools depend on YOU!

ALL Bethel School District families must complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application (CNEEB) this year. Completing this form also ensures that your student’s school will continue to receive the full amount of federal and state funding available. 

CHILD NUTRITION ELIGIBILITY AND EDUCATION BENEFIT APPLICATION

By submitting this application, households may qualify for:

• Summer 2027 SUNBucks Benefits
• Reduced fees for other programs and activities
• You must check YES! Please share my child’s income eligibility for each program you wish to receive discounts for:
  • ASB Fees (ASB Cards, events & athletic entrance fees)
  • Course Fees (AP tests, credit retrieval and instrument rental)
  • Athletics (Sports fees)
  • iPad Coverage
  • College (application fees, scholarships and textbook discounts)

If a household’s income places students in the free or reduced-price meal eligibility category, fees will be adjusted accordingly in the district on-line payment system, InTouch.  NOTE:  The application must be completed 2-4 days BEFORE paying for your fees to give the systems time to make appropriate pricing adjustments.

Discounts for Directly Certified (DCRT) Students
If you received a letter stating your student has been Directly Certified (DCRT) for free or reduced price meals, you do not need to complete the CNEEB but must complete the following form to share your student’s eligibility information with the on-line payment system to ensure you receive the appropriate fee discounts and waivers:  Consent to share Free or Reduced Eligibility for DCRT Students

USDA requires eligibility determinations are made within 10 business days.

Submit your application by OCTOBER 1st of each school year.
CNEEB Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year but to ensure:

1. eligible discounts are applied to your student’s account 
2. schools receive all eligible funding available and
3. to help maintain eligibility for districtwide free meals

We strongly encourage families to submit their application by OCTOBER 1st of each school year. Households that experience a change in income due to job loss or other circumstances are encouraged to re-apply for benefits at any time.

Need a copy of your CNEEB Eligibility Letter?
You can get a copy of your Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application result by contacting our applications clerk at 253-800-3912.

Meal Information

Each enrolled student is entitled to 1 free reimbursable breakfast and 1 reimbursable lunch each day.  A reimbursable meal includes: 

• Breakfast: At least three of four offered items (grain/meat, fruit/veg, milk) one of which must include a ½ cup fruit or vegetable.
• Lunch: At least three of five offered food components, one of which one of which must include a ½ cup fruit or vegetable.

Fresh fruit and vegetable bars are offered at all school locations in addition to hot veggie choices, so students have many selections to choose from.

Students who choose not to take the minimum required meal components to create a reimbursable meal must be charged the A la carte price for each individual item.  

Students may purchase second meals.

Student second breakfast: $3.00
Student second lunch: $4.75
Milk: $0.70

USDA covers the cost of complete, reimbursable breakfast or lunch meals, not milk only.  Students who would normally purchase milk can get free milk if they choose a “SACK LUNCH SUPPLEMENT”.  To obtain free milk, a student would need to take milk and two other meal components, i.e., milk, 1/2c serving of veggies and a full serving of fruit = reimbursable meal.

Staff and faculty may purchase meals.  Adult meals are not free.
Adult breakfast: $3.75
Adult lunch: $5.50

Meal times
Check your school’s website for breakfast and lunch service times.

Alternate school schedules and meal service
One hour late start:  Breakfast is served
Two hour late start: No breakfast service
Elementary early release:  Breakfast and lunch (sack lunches) are served

PayPams

Special Dietary Needs

If your student has a health condition that requires a modified diet and wants to participate in the meal program, please contact your school’s health room to complete the necessary paperwork needed to receive accommodations.  
USDA meal program regulations state that only when the required paperwork is complete and on file, can Child Nutrition Services can make menu modifications.

Procedure for Requesting Menu Modifications

Our Philosophy
Our objective is to support the nutritional health, well-being, physical growth, and development of all students in the Bethel School District. Students who are well-nourished have the best chance of achieving academic success.  It is our goal to provide the safest possible food environment for students and create a plan to meet their special dietary needs.

Menu Modifications will be made for students according to federal law and USDA regulations that require school meal programs to make reasonable modifications to accommodate children with disabilities. Under the law, a disability is an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity or bodily function.  Requests must be medically necessary and are made on a case-by-case basis. This can include allergies and digestive conditions.  Personal dietary preferences do not meet menu modification criteria.

Requests Must:

• Be medically necessary
• Be signed by a State-Recognized Medical Authority (RMA)*
• Indicate the food(s) to be omitted/avoided from the student’s diet
• Describe how ingestion of the food impacts the student
• Specifies the food(s) to be substituted/served instead
• How to Submit a Request

Have the RMA complete the “Request for Menu Modifications” form or write a diet order that includes all criteria listed above.  Turn in the request to the health room at your student’s school. 

What if my student’s dietary needs change?

Special dietary accommodations are valid for the duration of enrollment. However, if your student’s medical or health needs change, an updated request for special dietary accommodations must be submitted. 

If a student no longer requires a special diet, documentation from the student’s health care provider (RMA) must be provided for Child Nutrition Services to liberalize the student’s diet.

Questions
For questions about the process contact the health room at your student’s school or Child Nutrition Services at 253-800-3912.  For further assistance with concerns regarding special dietary accommodations or 504 plans, contact Special Services at 253-800-6920.

*A Recognized Medical Authority (RMA) includes a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Physician’s Assistant (PA) with prescriptive authority, Naturopathic Physician, and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP).

Diet Prescription Form Please have your student’s health care provider complete and return the form to the health room at your child’s school.
 

SUN Bucks

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a program that provides a one-time $120 benefit per year to help families buy groceries for their school-aged children when meals aren't available at school during the summer months. 

For Summer 2026 SUN Bucks updates got to: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sunbucks 

Smart Snacks

Nutrition standards for “All Food Sold in Schools”

All foods and beverages sold during the school day must meet federal nutrition criteria. “Smart Snacks in School” regulations went into effect July 1, 2014. Child Nutrition Services is here to help! If you have any questions regarding Smart Snacks, please contact the CNS Assistant Director, Christina Chisler at 253.800.3916. 

All Foods - Beverages
All Foods - Flyers
All Foods - Fundraiser
Beverages Guidelines
Smart Snacks Calculator
 

Wellness Policy

6700 Nutrition and Physical Fitness
6700PR Nutrition and Physical Fitness
 

Looking for a part time job while your kids are in school?  We have many part time shifts available that include full benefits and work nicely with daily and yearly school break schedules.  

Come join our team!  Bethel School District Jobs

Under Vacancies, click classified and then click Child Nutrition.