Healthy Snack Guidelines

Starting in 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture began an initiative, known as the All Foods Sold in Schools standards, to make all foods offered in schools healthier. This regulation applies to foods sold a la carte, in vending machines, and at any other venues where food is being sold to students, and aims to assist students in making well-rounded food choices.

The USDA has established practical, science-based nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages sold to children at school during the school day. The standards allow schools to offer healthier snack foods to children, while eliminating junk food.

The health of today’s school environment continues to improve. The Smart Snacks in School standards 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 supports efforts by school food service staff, school administrators, teachers, parents and the school community, all working hard to instill healthy habits in students. (USDA 2016)

Any food sold in school or provided as a snack must:

• Be a grain product that contains 50% or more whole grain by weight (whole grain as first ingredient), OR
• Have first ingredient as fruit, vegetable, dairy product or protein food, OR
• Be a combination food that contains at least 1/4 cup fruit and/or vegetable, AND
• Food must meet nutrient standards for calories, sodium sugar and fats.

Nutrient Requirements: 

Fat Limits

• Total fat less than 50% of calories
• Saturated fat less than 10% of calories
• Zero grams of Trans fat

Calorie Limits:

Snack items < 300 calories

Sodium Limits:

Snack items < 200 mg

Sugar Limits:

<35% of weight from total sugars in foods

All Schools May Sell:

• Plain water (with or without carbonation)
• Unflavored low fat milk
• Unflavored or flavored fat free milk and milk alternatives
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice diluted with water

Portion Sizes:

• Elementary Schools: 8 oz. portions of milk and juice
• Middle & High Schools: 12 oz. portions of milk and juice
• There are no portion size limits for plain water

Additional High School Guidelines:

• No more than 20 oz. portions of:
  • Calorie free, flavored water, and other flavored/carbonated beverages labeled to contain <5 calories
  • per 8 fl. oz. OR less than 10 calories per 20 fl. oz.
  • No more than 12 oz. portions of beverages with less than 40 calories per 8 fl. oz. or less than 60 calories per
  • 12 fl. oz.

• Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables with no added ingredients.
• Canned fruits with no added ingredients except water, which are packed in 100% juice, extra light syrup or light syrup.
• Reduced fat cheese including part skim mozzarella, is exempt from total fats and saturated fats standards.
• Products consisting of only dried fruits with no added nutritive sweeteners or fats are exempt from total fats and
• saturated fats standard.
• Dried or dehydrated whole fruits and vegetables with no added nutritive sweetener are exempt from sugar standards.

USDA Guidelines:

1. What is the serving size?
2. Are the calories less than 300 per serving?
3. Check the nutrients:

• Is the saturated fat less than 10% of the calories?
• Is the trans fat 0g?
• Is the sodium 200mg or less?
• Is there less than 35% sugar by weight?
• Is the total fat less than 50% of the calories?

4. Check the list of ingredients.

Please keep in mind that the snack list below will still need to be cross-checked for individual student allergies and not all snacks will be appropriate for all students. A Food Allergy Checklist will need to be submitted to the nurse prior to serving a snack or party treat to verify safety.

You may choose one DRINK item and one SNACK item OR you may choose one DRINK, one DIP and one OTHER item designated with an asterisk(*) as a dipper.

Drinks

(may serve one drink with any of the other listed snacks)

• Water (Any Size)
• 100% Fruit Juice (up to 8 oz. or 1 cup)
• Milk or Low-fat Flavored Milk (1 pint)

Fruits & Vegetables

• Fresh Fruit* (Unlimited)
• Fresh Vegetables* (Unlimited)
• Seedless Raisins (1 cup)
• Fresh Fruit Smoothie (1 cup or 8 oz.)
• Fruit Cup (in water or natural juices) (1/4 cup)

Dips

(may be used in combination with fresh fruit, vegetables, baked chips, and whole grain pretzels)

• Hummus (2 tbsp. or 1 oz.)
• Salsa (up to 1/3 cup)
• Low-fat Ranch Dressing (2 tbsp.)
• Low-fat Honey Mustard Dressing (2 tbsp.)
• Marzetti® Fat Free Carmel Dip (2 oz.)
• SunButter® (1 tbsp.)

Cereal Bars

Disclaimer: These items often contain allergens, so make sure they are peanut and tree nut free prior to purchasing.

• Kashi® Cereal Bars (strawberry and blackberry) (1 bar)
• Kashi® Honey Oat Flax Crunch Bar (1 bar)
• Betty Crocker^TM Oatmeal Bars (most flavors) (1 bar)
• Nutri-Grain® Bars (most flavors) (1 bar)
• Nature Valley^TM Oats and Honey Bar (1 bar)

Yogurt & Cheese

• Dannon Danimals® Drinkable Yogurt Smoothies (1 bottle)
• Dannon Danimals® Nonfat Yogurt Cups(1 cup)
• Yoplait® Light Yogurt (1 cup)
• Sargento® Light String Cheese and Reduced Fat Flavors (1 stick)
• Laughing Cow Babybel® Light Cheese (1 serving wedge or circle)

Crackers & Snacks

ChexTM Mix (all varieties without nuts) (1 oz. package)
Teddy Grahams (24 pieces)
Goldfish® (whole grain and baked) (55 pieces)
Wheat Thins Toasted Chips (100 calorie pack)
Whole Grain Pretzels (28 grams)
Animal Crackers* (1 oz. package or 29 grams)

Chips

• SkinnyPop (100 calorie pack)
• Lay's® Oven Baked Chips (all varieties*) (1 oz. or 15 chips)
• Cheetos Baked (puffs or crunchy) (1 oz.)
• Doritos® Reduced Fat Chips* (1 oz.)
• Pop Chips (all varieties*) (23 gram bag or 18 chips)

Frozen Treats

• Minute Maid® Frozen Lemonade (1 serving)
• Frozen 100% Fruit Juice Bars (1 serving)
• LUIGI'S Italian Ice (1 serving)
• Nestle Outshine® Fruit Bars (1 serving)
• Popsicle® Sugar Free Popsicles (1 serving)

Other

• Sugar Free Gum (1 serving)
• Sugar Free Mints (1 serving)

Approved Vendors

(When ordering, identify that it is for a school and you need to adhere to the Smart Snack guidelines.)

• Chartwells (custom-made teats to adhere to district guidelines)
• Jamba Juice (100% fruit smoothies, 16 oz., fruit only [without additives])
• Kona Ice (shaved ice snow cones made with 100% fruit juice)
• Pretzel Boys Pretzels
• Smoothie King (100% fruit smoothies, 12 oz., fruit only [without additives])