The Healthy Hunger-Free Act of 2010 directed the USDA to establish nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold to students in school during the school day, including foods sold through school fundraisers. The new Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards will help schools to make the healthy choice the easy choice by offering students more of the foods and beverages we should be encouraging. The following power point will help you to understand the USDA requirements of Smart Snacks for schools sale of snack, side and beverage items. 1
Let s look at the history of Competitive Foods and Beverages. In 2004, as a result of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, Local Wellness Policies had to be developed. In 2006, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation released their guidelines for Competitive Foods and Beverages. In 2007, the Institute of Medicine released a report outlining their recommendations for national standards. In 2010, the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act required the establishment of national standards for all foods and beverages sold in schools, other than those sold in the breakfast and lunch programs. In the summer of 2013, the Interim Final Rule for those standards was released. 2
The USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards went into effect July 1, 2014. 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. 3
Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards: Will cover all foods and beverages SOLD to STUDENTS OUTSIDE of the breakfast and lunch programs. Covers the entire school day, which is defined as midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the school day. Covers the entire school campus. Will NOT cover foods served, such as celebrations, example, birthday treats. Will NOT cover evening, weekend or community events. 4
All foods and beverages in vending machines, school stores, snack carts, fundraisers, snacks and ala carte sides sold to any student must comply with the new nutrition standards. 5
Foods and beverages sold as fundraisers during the school day are also subject to the Smart Snacks nutrition standards. State agencies will have the opportunity to set a number of infrequent food or beverage fundraisers that are exempt from the standards. However, even exempted fundraisers will not be allowed to be sold in competition with the breakfast or lunch programs in the food service area during meal service. If the state agency does not set a number of exempted food and beverage fundraisers, then ZERO exempted fundraisers will be allowed. Ohio has set exempted fundraisers at zero. There are no limits on foods and beverages sold as fundraisers that meet the standards. There are also no limits on non-food fundraising. 6
Let s explore the standards for competitive foods. In order for a food to qualify at all, it must first meet one of four provisions: It must be a whole grain product (first ingredient is a whole grain or contains 50% or more whole grains by weight). If the first ingredient is water, the second must be a whole grain; OR The first ingredient must be a fruit, vegetable, protein or dairy food. If the first ingredient is water, the second must be a fruit, vegetable, protein or dairy; OR The product is a combination food with at least ¼ c. fruit or vegetable; OR The product must have 10% DV of at least one nutrient of public health concern (fiber, vitamin D, calcium or potassium). The next few slides will outline which nutrients have standards remember, the nutrient standards apply to all snack foods, as well as sides. Visit www.healthiergeneration.org/smartsnacks or the USDA s Food and Nutrition Services website if you would like additional Smart Snack information. 7
Some fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables will be exempt from all nutrient standards. Exemptions include: 1. Fresh fruit with no added ingredients 2. Canned or frozen fruit packed in water or 100% juice or extra light or light syrup 3. Fresh vegetables with no added ingredients 4. Canned or frozen vegetables processed with water or small amount of sugar for processing to maintain quality 8
Smart Snack rules sets limits on calories for all snacks and sides sold to a student during the school day. The calorie limits for all snacks and sides must be less than or equal to 200 calories per serving. 9
Smart Snack rules sets limits on total fat, saturated fat, and trans fat in snacks & sides sold to students during the school day. The limits for snack and sides total fat must be less than or equal to 35% of calories per serving. The limits for snack and sides saturated fat must be less than 10% of calories per serving. The limits for snack and sides trans fat must be zero per serving. 10
Smart Snack rules sets limits on the sugar content of all snacks or sides sold to student during the school day. The limit for snack and sides total sugar must be less than or equal to 35% of weight from total sugars. 11
Smart Snack rules sets limits on sodium content of snacks and sides sold to students during the school day. The limits for snack and sides sodium must be less than or equal to 230 mg per serving. 12
Determining if you have a compliant competitive food can be a daunting task! But help is available Use the Alliance for a Healthier Generation s Smart Snacks Product Calculator to help you determine quickly if you have a compliant product! It can help take the guesswork out of determining which products are and are not compliant! Visit www.healthiergeneration.org/calculator to use this tool. You can also check out the Product Navigator for a list of products that meet the Smart Snacks nutrition standards on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation website. 13
Next let s explore beverages. NO caffeinated beverages will be allowed at elementary and middle school. Only plain water, non-fat and low fat milk and 100% fruit or vegetable juice will be allowed at elementary and middle school. In addition, there will be serving size limits for milk and juice. At elementary school, milk and juice is limited to 8 oz. or less. At middle and high school, milk and juice is limited to 12 oz. or less. 14
Some additional flavored and/or carbonated beverages will be allowed at high school (they must meet certain calorie and serving size limits). Diet beverages will be limited to 20 oz. or less. Low calorie beverages will be limited to 12 oz. or less. 15
Please reach out to Connie Little, Supervisor of Student Nutrition of Beavercreek City School, with questions about Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. She is here to help! 16