Encouraged, not required. Meal is only free if they take good they do not want.
. Therefore, students are not required to take food items they do not wish to eat, but students are encouraged to take at least a minimum of 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetable at each meal along with two other items from all items offered, so the meals can be claimed as a reimbursable meal for USDA reimbursement.
“students are not required to take food items they do not wish to eat, “
I don’t think this is true — I read recently that they did have take them and they ended up throwing them away.
Solutions sought to reduce food waste at schools
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-lausd-waste-20140402-story.html#page=1
“It’s lunchtime at Washington Preparatory High School in Los Angeles, but 16-year-old Parrish Jackson has barely touched her turkey burger and apricots..
She’s dumping them into the trash can.
....
But under federal school meal rules finalized in 2012, Parrish and other students must take at least three items — including one fruit or vegetable — even if they don’t want them. Otherwise, the federal government won’t reimburse school districts for the meals.”
The apricots are “sour,” the junior says. The meat is “nasty.” If it were up to her, she would just have taken the potato wedges — they’re close enough to fries — then headed to the student store to fuel up on hot Cheetos and juice.”