MIAMI \u2014 This 2026-2027 academic school year will begin with new cafeteria menu additions at public schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. <\/p>\n
Leer en espa\u00f1ol<\/a><\/p>\n The new options at Broward schools\u2019 cafeterias include Jalape\u00f1o egg patties, a plant-based fiesta wrap with hummus, and seasoned Cajun fries. In Miami-Dade, the new dishes include sriracha honey chicken and all-beef meatballs. <\/p>\n \u201cWe are a very large district, and we have a lot of students, and all of them have different likes and dislikes, and we want to make sure that we are providing a wide variety,\u201d said Elizabeth Seeley, a dietician for Broward County Public Schools. <\/p>\n Parents or guardians will need to complete an application so the district can determine their income eligibility<\/a> for free or reduced-price lunches through June 30, 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cParents can still qualify for free, reduced-price meals,\u201d said Kristina Ramirez, the BCPS program coordinator. \u201cThey just need to go online and complete the application.\u201d<\/p>\n Only 121 public schools in Miami-Dade<\/a> and 141 public schools in Broward will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch, as part of the federally assisted child nutrition programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a surplus amount of money because of grants we received from COVID, and then we were able to have all of our students eat for free, but that surplus is now down. That was because that was the purpose of it. That\u2019s what we did with our money,\u201d Seeley said. <\/p>\n The 2026\u201327 academic year begins on Aug. 10<\/a> for students at Broward County Public Schools, on Aug. 11<\/a> for students at the Archdiocese of Miami Catholic Schools, and on Aug. 13 <\/a>for students at Miami-Dade County Public Schools. <\/p>\n