Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Meal Times for Breakfast and Lunch


Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin

To: National School Lunch Program Sponsors
School Breakfast Program Sponsors

Number: 05-113

Attention: Food Service Director

Date: August 2005

Subject: Meal Times for Breakfast and Lunch

Reference: Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations Section 210.10(l)(1); 220.2: Management Bulletin 02-120, August 2002

This Management Bulletin clarifies the regulatory meal time requirements for school nutrition programs. Regulations governing the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program stipulate that breakfast and lunch be served as follows:

Breakfast

Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), Section 220.2 defines “breakfast” as a meal that is served to a child in the morning hours. The meal shall be served at or near the beginning of the child’s day at school. 

Lunch

7 CFR Section 210.10(l)(1) states that schools must offer lunches during the period the school has designated as the lunch period.  Schools must offer lunches between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Exemption From the Lunch Meal Time Requirement

Under certain circumstances, the Nutrition Services Division (NSD) may grant approval to sponsors to serve lunch before 10:00 a.m. and after 2:00 p.m. Please refer to Management Bulletin 02-120, dated August 2002, at www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/mb02120.asp for approval criteria.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact your School Nutrition Programs (SNP) County Specialist. The SNP County Specialist list is available in the Download Forms section of the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System, Form ID Caseload. You can also email SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov to be directed to your SNP County Specialist.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Monday, January 6, 2025
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • New Legislation Regarding Ultraprocessed Food (added 13-Oct-2025)
    This page announces the signing of Assembly Bill (AB) 1264 and announces a webinar that provides an overview of AB 1264, explores implementation strategies, and presents current research and policy approaches to reduce UPF consumption among students.
  • LMS Account Setup & Site Overview Webinars (added 13-Oct-2025)
    This new learning management system will be used as the primary venue for delivering training content to satisfy your annual mandatory training hours for Professional Standards and beyond.
  • October Celebrations 2025 (added 08-Oct-2025)
    Encouragement for program operators to participate in any of the following special occasions: National Farm to School Month, California Crunch Day, National School Lunch Week, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and National Farmer Day.
  • SUN Bucks Reminder - EDCS Data Accuracy (added 08-Oct-2025)
    Reminder about ensuring data accuracy in Education Data Collection System (EDCS) submissions.
  • CNAC Minutes for the April 30, 2025 Meeting (added 08-Oct-2025)
    Meeting minutes for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Child Nutrition Advisory Council (CNAC) on April 30, 2025.