USDA Publishes Standards for Snack Foods for Schools

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• 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

*On July 1, 2016, foods may not qualify using the 10% DV criteria.
**On July 1, 2016, snack items must contain 200 mg sodium per item

Here is a before and after chart from the USDA brochure on the snacking standards:

Nutrition 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.

Beyond this, the standards allow additional “no calorie” and “lower calorie” beverage options for high school students.

• No more than 20-ounce portions of
• Calorie-free, flavored water (with or without carbonation); and
• Other flavored and/or carbonated beverages that are labeled to contain < 5 calories per 8 fluid ounces or 10 calories per 20 fluid ounces.
• No more than 12-ounce portions of
• Beverages with 40 calories per 8 fluid ounces, or 60 calories per 12 fluid ounces.

Other Requirements

Fundraisers

• The sale of food items that meet nutrition requirements at fundraisers are not limited in any way under the standards.
• The standards do not apply during non-school hours, on weekends and at off-campus fundraising events.
• The standards provide a special exemption for infrequent fundraisers that do not meet the nutrition standards. State agencies may determine the frequency with which fundraising activities take place that allow the sale of food and beverage items that do not meet the nutrition standards.

Accompaniments

• Accompaniments such as cream cheese, salad dressing and butter must be included in the nutrient profile as part of the food item sold.
• This helps control the amount of calories, fat, sugar and sodium added to foods by accompaniments, which can be significant.

USDA is seeking comments through October 28, 2013. View all Standards online at http://www.regulations.gov

We applaud their efforts to care for the health of our most important citizens - our children.

Get great snack recipes from our recipe development center

Here are 5 top snacking do's and don'ts:
Basic Guide to Snacking
1. Don’t eat if you are not hungry. The calories eaten when you are not hungry do not help you eat later or less at the next meal.
2. Don’t skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast will cause you to consume more foods later in the day.
3. Do eat smaller, more frequent meals.
4. Do choose the right foods. If your snacks are based on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, with a little nonfat dairy and lean protein, you will be on your way to better health. You will want to watch your intake of salt and saturated fat to keep your heart healthy.
5. Do think out with the bag!! That is, out with foods that are sold as snacks in all those cute packages and bags. Refined carbohydrates such as pretzels, crackers, cookies and chips are often high in sodium and fat, and low in fiber.