A. Below are some guidelines that we have to follow. And as far as price, we are on par with other districts yet still well below what retailers sell these items for.
USDA recently 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. The health of today’s school environment continues to improve. Students across the country are now offered healthier school lunches with more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The Smart Snacks in School standards will build on those healthy advancements and ensure that kids are only offered tasty and nutritious foods during the school day.
Any food sold in schools 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; or
- Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).*
Foods must also meet several nutrient requirements:
- Calorie limits:
- Snack items: ≤ 200 calories
- Entrée items: ≤ 350 calories
- Sodium limits:
- Snack items: ≤ 230 mg**
- Entrée 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
