Foods sold outside of reimbursable school meals such as through vending machines, cafeteria a la carte lines, fundraisers, school stores, etc.
All food and beverages sold during the school day must meet USDA nutrition standards except as approved exempted fundraisers. When beverages are sold individually outside of reimbursable school meals during the school day, it is required that those beverages are one of the following: fruit and vegetable juice, milk or flavored milk, or water. When foods are sold individually outside of reimbursable meals, it is required that those foods include snacks that meet the USDA requirements for healthy snack foods.
A. Elementary Schools. The school food service program will approve and provide all food and beverage sales to students in elementary schools. Given young children’s limited nutrition skills, food in elementary schools will be sold as balanced meals. If available, foods and beverages sold individually should be limited to low-fat and non-fat milk. No food or candy sales are allowed at school stores.
B. Middle School and High Schools. In the middle school and high school, all foods and beverages sold individually outside the reimbursable meal programs (including those sold through a la carte lines, vending machines, student stores, or fundraising activities) may not be sold within the school building between 12:00 am (midnight) and thirty minutes after the school day. If foods and beverages are sold individually outside the reimbursable meal program, it is required that the beverages include one of the following: fruit and vegetable juice, milk or flavored milk, or water; and that the foods include snacks that comply with USDA/federal regulations.
C. Fundraising Activities. To support children’s health and school nutrition-education efforts, school fundraising activities involving food or beverages will be encouraged to utilize foods that meet the USDA criteria for healthy snack foods and beverages sold individually. Requests for fundraising events must be made in advance in writing to the school administrator for consideration. Ten exemptions from the USDA established nutrition standards are allowed per school each school year for in-school fundraisers. The school administrator will complete the required smart snack tracking form and return it to the Director of Student Nutrition annually.
D. Snacks. Snacks served during the school day or in after-school care or enrichment programs will make a positive contribution to children’s diets and health with an emphasis on serving fruits and vegetables as the primary snacks and water as the primary beverage. Schools will assess if or when to offer snacks based on the timing of schools’ meals, children’s nutritional needs, children’s ages, and other circumstances.
E. Rewards. Schools will not use foods or beverages, especially those that do not meet the nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold individually, as rewards for academic performance or good behavior.
F. Fundraising Activities. To support children’s health and school nutrition-education efforts, school fundraising activities involving food or beverages will be encouraged to utilize foods that meet the USDA criteria for healthy snack foods and beverages sold individually. Requests for fundraising events must be made in advance in writing to the school administrator for consideration. Ten exemptions from the USDA established nutrition standards are allowed per school each school year for in-school fundraisers. The school administrator will complete the required smart snack tracking form and return it to the Student Nutrition Supervisor annually.