USDA published practical, science-based nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages sold to children at school during the school day. The standards, required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, will allow schools to offer healthier snack foods to children, while limiting junk food.

Nutrition Standards for Foods

Any food sold in school must: 

• Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or
• Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product or a protein food; or
• Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable

Foods must also meet several nutrient requirements:

Calorie limits

• Snack items: ≤ 200 calories
• Entrée items: ≤ 350 calories

Sodium limits

• Snack Items:  ≤ 200 mg
• Entree items: ≤ 480 mg

Fat limits

• Total fat: ≤ 35% of calories
• Saturated fat: ≤ 10% of calories
• Trans fat: zero grams

Sugar limit ≤ 35% of weight from total sugars in foods

Nutrient Standards for Beverages

All schools are allowed to sell:

• Plain water (carbonated or uncarbonated);
• Unflavored low-fat milk;
• Flavored or unflavored non-fat milk (and milk alternatives); and
• 100% fruit and vegetable juices, and full-strength juice diluted with water, carbonated or non-carbonated, with no added sweeteners.

Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions of allowable milk and juice beverages, while middle and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions. In high schools, the standards limit the maximum container size to 12-ounces for lower calories beverages and 20 ounces for calorie-free beverages.

Smart Snacks in School provides additional calorie-free and lower-calorie beverage options for high school students:

• No entrees (meat & grain combination items) can be sold by anyone outside of the foodservice staff at any time during the school day.
• School-sponsored fundraisers are only allowed 30 minutes after the conclusion of lunch. Vending machines, school stores, and/or snack bars are not considered school-sponsored fundraisers.
• Elementary schools may conduct exempt food fundraisers no more than 5 days out of the school year.
• Middle and combination schools may conduct exempt food fundraisers no more than 10 days out of the school year.
• High schools may conduct exempt food fundraisers no more than 15 days out of the school year.
• A Healthy School Team at each school must be established by June 30, 2015, that:

o   Ensures compliance with competitive foods

o   Maintains records of exempt fundraisers

o   Reports compliance to our district's wellness policy official

Plug nutrition and ingredient information into the Smart Snack Product Calculator to see if your beverage or snack is compliant!

For more information, please visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/smart-snacks-school.