Healthy Snacks Guidelines
These healthy snack guidelines apply to items sold in a school at all times during the regular or extended school day, except for events at which adults are a significant part of the audience such as athletic events, carnivals or performances.
Snack Foods
Each individual food item may not contain any trans fat and will have no more than:
- 35% of its calories from fat (excluding legumes, nuts, seeds, nonfried vegetables, cheese, eggs, and other nut butters) and 10% of its calories from saturated (excluding nuts, eggs, and cheese)
- 35% of its weight from added sugars (does not apply to fruit and vegetables)
- 350 mg of sodium per serving for bread, sweets and salty snacks; 480 mg for nutrient-dense snacks, such as nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, dairy; 530 mg for pre-packaged entrees, such as “hot pockets,” soups, burritos; 600 mg for freshly made daily entrees.
- Elementary school (K–5) items may not contain more than 150 total calories.
- Middle school (6–8) items may not contain more than 180 total calories.
- High school (9–12) items may not contain more than 200 total calories.
Beverages
Kindergarten–5th Grade: Beverages will be limited to water and the following:
- Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 8 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 120 calories per 8 ounces.
- Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 8 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 150 calories per 8 ounces.
6th–8th Grade: Beverages will be limited to water and the following:
- Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 10 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 150 calories.
- Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 10 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 190 calories.
9th–12th Grade: Beverages will be limited to water and the following:
- Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 12 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 180 calories.
- Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 12 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 225 calories.
- A no-calorie or low-calorie beverage if the beverage contains no more than 10 calories per 8 ounces, excluding beverages defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value” (e.g., soda water).
- A beverage that is not more than 12 ounces and contains no more than 100 calories, excluding beverages defined by the USDA as “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value.”
Healthy Parties Guidelines
Encouraged Beverages
Kindergarten–5th Grade: Beverages limited to water and the following:
- Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 8 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 120 calories per 8 ounces.
- Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 8 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 150 calories per 8 ounces.
6th–8th Grade: Beverages limited to water and the following:
- Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 10 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 150 calories).
- Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 10 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 190 calories).
9th–12th Grade: Beverages limited to water and the following:
- Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 12 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 180 calories.
- Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 12 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 225 calories.
- A no-calorie or low-calorie beverage if the beverage contains no more than 10 calories per 8 ounces, excluding beverages defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value” (e.g., soda water).
- A beverage that is not more than 12 ounces and contains no more than 100 calories, excluding beverages defined by the USDA as “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value.”
Not allowed: Beverages of Minimal Nutritional Value as defined by the USDA (soda water or “pop”).
Encouraged Foods
- Food items that do not contain any trans fat and have no more than:
- 35% of its calories from fat (excluding legumes, nuts, seeds, nonfried vegetables, cheese, eggs, and other nut butters) and 10% of its calories from saturated (excluding nuts, eggs, and cheese)
- 35% of its weight from added sugars (does not apply to fruit and vegetables)
- 350 mg of sodium per serving for bread, sweets and salty snacks; 480 mg for nutrient-dense snacks, such as nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, dairy; 530 mg for pre-packaged entrees, such as “hot pockets,” soups, burritos; 600 mg for freshly made entrees.
Portion Sizes
Portion sizes should be reasonable given the age of the student. Appropriate portion sizes for beverages are noted under “Beverages.”
Catering
4J Catering is no longer available.
