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As schools have made the pivot to virtual, school lunches have remained.

Maumelle Middle is among the schools across the state that are offering the option of boxed breakfasts and lunches for students.

Those boxes are for five-days and for any student.

“Any child 18 and under is welcome to a meal box,” Pulaski County Special School District Spokeswoman Jessica Duff said. “We prefer that parents call ahead to request, but it is not necessary.”

Duff said Maumelle Middle had 10 pickups on Monday.

The boxes are funded by the National School Lunch Program and are age appropriate.

“Grades PreK through 8 receive a slightly smaller portion than grades 9 through 12,” Duff said.

So, for example, a younger student would receive half a cup of fruit a day, while a high school student would get one cup of fruit.

Meal boxes include breakfast and lunch and Duff explained a typical prepared meal.

“Sausage biscuit, half cup fruit, 4 ounces of juice and 8 ounces of milk,” she said for breakfast, while lunch would be, “chicken alfredo, green beans, orange glazed carrots, whole grain roll, half cup of fruit and 8 ounces of milk.”

Snacks are not included.

So a five day box would include:

• Five heat-and-serve prepared home meals

• Five cups of vegetables

• Five cups of different fruit

• 10 ounces of grain items

• 10 cartons of milk

• Five prepared breakfast entrees

• Five cartons of juice

Duff added, “ll come with heat, serve and storage instructions.”