• New Cafe LA Logo

     

    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 Students 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.  LAUSD is a Community Eligibility Program District, where more than 81% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Food Services plays a vital role in providing nutritional support to many students whose main source of nourishment may be Café LA.

About Us

  • 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. 

    Our mascot, Café LA Ray, routinely visits schools and students across the District to provide nutrition education and reinforce healthy lifestyles.  Café LA’s Hot Supper is another initiative to support students after the bell.                                      

    Café LA | LAUSD recently introduced its first food truck to promote school meals to students; three additional trucks will be acquired in 2023-24 to serve all District schools.

    Our menus offer a variety of options that include vegan and vegetarian options daily at all schools.

Top 10 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
    • Plans meals in compliance with the United States Department of Agriculture and California Department of Education nutrition standards
    • Supports the District’s Good Food Procurement Resolution that supports a regional food system that is ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible.
    • 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
    • Free breakfast and lunch at all schools under California's Universal Meals Policy
    • Free hot supper for all at schools with the Hot Supper Program
    • Have a digital platform, YumYummi, where menus can be easily accessed on mobile devices
    • Host food tasting events bi-annually to solicit student input on menu choices 
    • Every elementary school features a fresh fruit and vegetable bar daily to help students develop healthy eating habits

     

  • USDA Nondiscrimination Statement:

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.  

    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

    To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

    1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture 
      Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
      1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
      Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 
    2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or 
    3. email: program.intake@usda.gov.

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.