SMART SNACKS IN SCHOOL HANDBOOK

A G U I D E TO U N D E R STA N D I N G T H E R E G U L AT I O N S , F R E S H P R O D U CT O F F E R I N G S & CO M P L I A N C E

Fresh Healthy Vending, Inc.888.902.7558www.freshandhealthy.org

SMART SNACKS IN SCHOOL HANDBOOKA guide to understanding the regulations, Fresh product offerings and complianceSUMMARY OF THE SMART SNACKS IN SCHOOL GUIDELINES

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. Smart Snacks in School also support efforts by school food service staff, school administrators, teachers, parents and the school community, all working hard to instill healthy habits in students.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SMART SNACKS IN SCHOOL NUTRITION STANDARDS INCLUDE:

• More of the foods we should encourage.

• Less of the foods we should avoid.

• Targeted beverage standards allowing variation by age group.

• Flexibility for important traditions.

• Ample time for implementation.

WHAT IS THE HEALTHY HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT OF 2010?

On December 13, 2010, the President signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, reauthorizing numerous child nutrition programs until September 30, 2015. Included in this legislation are the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Summer Food Service Program, the Afterschool Meal Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed). This legislation provides $4.5 billion in new resources for those programs. 

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NUTRITION STANDARDS FOR FOODS

Under the proposal, any food sold in schools must:

• Be either a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, a protein food, a “whole-grain rich” product, or a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit or vegetable; or

• Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of a nutrient cited as a public health concern in the 2012 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber)

Additionally, foods sold must meet a range of nutrient requirements:

• Calorie limits include: ○ Snack items: ≤ 200 calories ○ Entrée items: ≤ 350 calories

• Sodium limits include: ○ Snack items: ≤ 200 mg per portion

as packaged ○ Entrée items: ≤ 480 mg per portion

as packaged

• Fat limits include: ○ Total fat: ≤ 35% of calories ○ Saturated fat: ≤ 10% of calories ○ Trans fat: zero grams

• Sugar limits include either: ○ 35% of calories from total sugars

in foods OR ○ 35% of weight from total sugars in

foods

NUTRITION STANDARDS FOR BEVERAGES

• Under the proposal, all schools may sell:

○ Plain water ○ Plain low fat milk ○ Plain or flavored fat-free milk and

milk alternatives permitted by NSLP/SBP and

○ 100% fruit or vegetable juice

• Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions, while middle schools and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions of these beverages.

• Beyond this, the proposal offers additional beverage options outside of the meal service period for high school students. These are no more than 20-ounce servings of

○ Calorie-free, flavored and/or unflavored carbonated water and

○ Other “calorie-free” beverages that comply with the FDA standard of less than 5 calories per serving.

• Also for high schools, the rule proposes that no more than 12-ounce servings of other lower calorie beverages may be served outside of the meal service. Two alternatives for these beverages are proposed:

○ 40 calories per 8-ounce serving (≤ 60 calories/12-ounce serving) or

○ 50 calories per 8-ounce serving (≤75 calories/12-ounce serving)

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EXAMPLES OF SNACKS & BEVERAGES THAT MEET THE SMART SNACKS IN SCHOOL STANDARDS:

Snacks:Pop Corner’s popped corn chips

Popchips popped potato, tortilla & corn chips

Super Human Snacks hot fries

Larabar bar

Clif Bar

Mary’s Gone crackers

GoGo Squeeze squeezable fruit

Annie’s crackers

Buzz Strong cookie

Sensible Food apple chips

Bare Fruit crunch

Z Bar

Drinks:Dasani water

Izze sparkling juice

Sambazon juice

Steaz energy drink

The Switch juice

R.W. Kundsen juice

Blue Sky soda

Apple & Eve juice

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MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE

• State agencies will monitor compliance with standards through a review of local educational agency records as part of State agency administrative review

IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT

• State agencies and schools must implement provisions of interim rule beginning July 1, 2014

• USDA guidance and technical assistance for State agencies and local educational agencies prior to and during implementation period

• Smart Snacks Food Calculator is available online

• For further information about school meals go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/

SMART SNACKS IN SCHOOL AND VENDING MACHINES

Schools do not necessarily need to get rid of their current vending machines. They just need to “comply”. The Smart Snacks in School rules just ensure that snacks and beverages sold outside of school meals are nutritious. Fresh Healthy Vending provides an easy solution to compliance that is hands-free for the school. The Smart Snacks in School rules apply anywhere on campus that students have access to. This includes teacher lounges if they are accessible to students.

*Information from USDA.gov

www.freshandhealthy.org 888.902.7558 Fresh Healthy Vending, Inc

Fresh Healthy Vending, Inc. 888.902.7558 www.freshandhealthy.org