Smart Snacks Be in the Know
Summary of Board Policy Food Services Management Descriptor Code: EE THE SALE OF FOODS OF MINIMAL NUTRITIONAL VALUE The Gainesville City School System Board of Education recognizes the school breakfast and school lunch program as the primary food source for the school system and therefore prohibits the sale and service of foods of minimal nutritional value during the school day on school property. School day is defined as the period from the midnight before, until 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. School property includes outdoor eating areas, parking lots, and school stores. No extra food sales will be considered a substitute for a meal component. Extra food sales shall not interfere with breakfast and lunch meals. Allowable extra food products must comply with the following criteria. Any food sold in schools must: Be a whole grain-rich grain product containing 50% or more whole grains by weight, or have whole grains as the first ingredient; 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 fruit and/or vegetable. *If water is the first ingredient, the second ingredient must be one of the items above. Calorie limits: Snack items: 200 calories Entrée items: 350 calories Sodium limits: Snack items: 200 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 National Standards for Beverages: All schools may sell: Plain water (with or without carbonation) Unflavored low fat milk Unflavored or flavored fat free milk and milk alternatives permitted by NSLP/SBP 100% fruit or vegetable juice and 100% fruit or vegetable juice diluted with water (with or without carbonation), and no added sweeteners. Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions, while middle schools and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions of milk and juice. There is no portion size limit for plain water. The sale of caffeinated beverages in elementary and middle schools is prohibited with the exception of trace amounts of naturally occurring caffeine. Fundraisers The sale of food items that meet nutrition requirements at fundraisers are not limited in any way under the standards, except that they may not be sold in the cafeteria. All snacks sold in schools must meet the aforementioned nutritional requirements. The standards do not apply during non-school hours, on weekends, during class parties, and at off-campus fundraising events such as concession stands. Questions regarding approved snacks may be directed to the school nutrition department. Gainesville City Schools Date Adopted: 5/5/2014 Last Revised: 3/20/2014
What are Competitive Foods? Competitive food: all food and beverages sold to students on the School campus during the School day, other than those meals reimbursable under programs authorized by the NSLA and the Child Nutrition Act.
JOT IT DOWN! Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards will go into effect July 1, 2014 which is right around the corner!
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 in classrooms, such as celebrations or lunches brought from home. Will NOT cover evening, weekend or community events, such as concession stands.
SMART SNACKS IN SCHOOL NUTRITION STANDARDS Vending Machines School Stores Fundraising A la Carte Snack Carts The foods and beverages in vending machines, school stores, snack carts and sold a la carte ALL must comply with the new nutrition standards. It takes time to make changes, so begin today to be ready for next school year. The Alliance is for a Healthier Generation has tools and resource, and they are ready to help with implementation today. Before exploring the standards, please note: Smart Snacks nutrition standards are a MINIMUM set of standards. Our district standards are stricter in some areas, and they take precedence. USDA Smart Snacks is just a minimum of what must be met.
a FUNDRAISERS School Day Only Exemptions set by State/Local Agencies No Limit on Products that Meet Requirements 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. The Georgia state agency has not set a number of exempted food and beverage fundraisers, therefore ZERO exempted fundraisers will be allowed. There are no limits on foods and beverages sold as fundraisers that meet the standards. There are also no limits on non food fundraising.
GENERAL STANDARDS a FOR COMPETITIVE FOODS Whole Grain Fruit, Vegetable, Protein or Dairy Combination Food (at least ¼ c. fruit or vegetable) MEETS ALL NUTRIENT STANDARDS Let s explore the standards for competitive foods. In order for a food to qualify at all, it must first meet one of three provisions: 1. 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 seconds must be a whole grain; OR 2. 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 3. The product is a combination food with at least ¼ c. fruit or vegetable; OR 4. IF you have a product that meets at least one of the standards just outline, then use the nutrition information to determine if it also meets all nutrient standards. If it also meets all nutrient standards, then your product is a compliant competitive food. The next few pages will outline which nutrients have standards remember, the nutrient standards apply to all snack foods, as well as sides and entrees sold a la carte during meal times. Visit www.healthiergeneration.org/smartsnacks or the USDA s Food and Nutrition Services website if you would like the specific standards for each nutrient.
SOME FOODS are exempt from the nutrient standards SOME fresh, canned or frozen FRUITS & VEGGIES Some fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables will be exempt from all nutrient standards.
CALORIE Limits FOR: Snacks/Sides Entrees There will be calorie limits for snacks and sides, as well as entrees. <200 for snacks <350 for entrees unless it is served by the NSLP on the day of or day after service