1. Be in the
Smart Snacks
Know

2. Smart Snacks Interim Final Rule Smart Snacks Final Rule
2004
2006
2007
2010
2013
2016
Local Wellness Policy
Alliance
Competitive
Food & Beverage
Guidelines
IOM Standards
Healthy
Hunger-Free
Kids Act
Smart Snacks Interim Final Rule
Smart Snacks Final Rule
Let’s look at the history of Competitive Foods and Beverages.
In 2004, as a result of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, Local Wellness Policies had to be developed.
In 2006, the Alliance fore a Healthier Generation release their guidelines for Competitive Foods and Beverages.
In 2007, the Institute of Medicine release a report outlining their recommendations for national standards.
In 2010, the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act required the establishment of national standards for all foods and beverages sold in schools, other than those sold in the breakfast and lunch programs.
In the summer of 2013, the Interim Final Rule for those standards was released.
In the summer of 2016, the Final rule was published.

3. Date to remember! July 1, 2014
Smart Snacks in School became a federal LAW in All schools should be in compliance at this time.

4. NOT evenings, weekends or community events
Entire school day
All products SOLD
Entire school campus
NOT evenings, weekends or community events
NOT foods served
Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards:
Apply to 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.
Does NOT cover foods served, such as celebrations.
Does NOT cover evening, weekend or community events.

5. Smart Snacks in School Nutrition Standards
Vending
School Stores
The foods and beverages in vending machines, school stores, snack carts and sold a la carte all must comply with Smart Snacks
The Alliance is for a Healthier Generation has tools and resources, and they are ready to help with implementation and maintenance today! Let them help you with success and sustainability, in addition to ensuring compliance!
Before exploring the standards, please note: Smart Snacks nutrition standards are a MINIMUM set of standards. If your state or district standards are more strict in some areas, those would take precedence. Smart Snacks is just a minimum of what must be met.
Snack Carts
A la Carte

6. And Fundraising! Timing Exemptions Compliant Items
In-school fundraising during the school day only
Number set by state agency
No limit on products that meet Smart Snacks!
Foods and beverages sold as fundraisers during the school day are also subject to the Smart Snacks nutrition standards.
State agencies may 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. If the state agency does not set a number of exempted food and beverage fundraisers, then ZERO exempted fundraisers will be allowed. <Suggestion: insert your state number here. Check with your state agency to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.>
There are no limits on foods and beverages sold as fundraisers that meet the standards. There are also no limits on non-food fundraising.

7. Must also meet all nutrient standards!
General Standards
First Ingredient:
Whole Grain
Fruit
Vegetable
Protein Food
Dairy
Combination Food:
At least ¼ c. fruit or vegetable (find out from your manufacturer!)
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:
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
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
The product is a combination food with at least ¼ c. fruit or vegetable; OR
NOTE: The %DV general standard went away on July 1, 2016 and is no longer allowable as a qualifying standard.
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 slides 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 the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services website if you would like the specific standards for each nutrient.
Must also meet all nutrient standards!

8. Fresh, Frozen, Canned Fruits & Veggies
SOME…
Fresh, Frozen, Canned
Fruits & Veggies
Some fresh, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables are exempt from all nutrient standards.
Exempt from all standards.

9. For: Calorie Limits Snacks/Sides Entrees
There are calorie limits for snacks and sides, as well as entrees.

10. Standards for: Fat Limits Total Fat Saturated Fat Trans Fat
There are limits on total fat and saturated fat, and all products must contain zero grams trans fat.

11. Sugar
Limits
There are limits on sugar.

12. Standards for: Sodium Limits Snacks/Sides Entrees
And there are limits on sodium. One thing to note, the sodium limit for snacks and sides decreased on July 1, 2016, so make sure products are compliant with the new level of 200 mg!

13. ALL GRADES WATER NON FAT MILK LOW FAT MILK SERVING SIZE LIMITS:
(with or without carbonation)
(plain or flavored)
(plain only)
100% JUICE
100% JUICE DILUTED W/WATER (no added sweeteners)
SERVING SIZE LIMITS:
8 oz. ES
12 oz. MS/HS
Next let’s explore beverages.
NO caffeinated beverages are allowed at elementary and middle school. Only plain water, non-fat and low fat milk and 100% fruit or vegetable juice are allowed at elementary and middle school.
In addition, there are serving size limits for milk and juice. At elementary school, milk and juice is limited to 8 oz. or less. At middle and high school, milk and juice is limited to 12 oz. or less.
(fruit or vegetable)
(with or without carbonation)
(milk, juice)

14. LOW-CALORIE BEVERAGES
High School ONLY
DIET BEVERAGES
(20 oz.)
LOW-CALORIE BEVERAGES
(12 oz.)
(<5 kcal/8 oz. OR
≤10 kcal/20 oz.)
(≤40 kcal/8 oz. OR
≤60 kcal/12 oz. )
Some additional flavored and/or carbonated beverages are allowed at high school (they must meet certain calorie and serving size limits).
Diet beverages are limited to 20 oz. or less. Low calorie beverages are limited to 12 oz. or less.

15. Smart Snacks Tools Smart Food Planner
foodplanner.healthiergeneration.org
Determining if you have a Smart Snacks compliant food or beverage can be a daunting task! Let the Alliance for a Healthier Generation help! Check out our Smart Food Planner at foodplanner.healthiergeneration.org, which includes a searchable (and downloadable!) database of Smart Snacks compliant foods and beverages.

16. Smart Snacks Tools Smart Snacks Calculator
Also there you will find the Smart Snacks Product Calculator! The Calculator helps you determine quickly if you have a compliant product. It takes the guesswork out of determining which products are and are not compliant. The Calculator is the only USDA verified tool for compliance, so be sure to also print and save reports from the Calculator for your audits!

17. Getting Started Know Build Your Consensus Know Venues Engage Your
Products
Engage
Business
Office
Let’s review some Steps for Success for making change to competitive foods and beverages:
Stay organized! Figure out WHERE snacks and beverages are being sold on campus and who is responsible for that venue.
Build consensus by educating your school community about Smart Snacks. Develop a sustainable compliance plan.
Next, take a look at your products – ensure all are compliant! Put a plan in place for replacing any non-compliant products immediately. Don’t forget to include in-school fundraising!
Work with the school or district business office to identify which contracts may still need amending and begin collecting contact information for vendors.
Work with vendors. Ask for a list of their products that meet the Smart Snacks nutrition standards, and ensure new products they introduce are compliant. Work with them on a plan for replacing non-compliant products.
See if you can work with neighboring school districts and combine purchasing power.
Communicate with students, staff and parents along the way and keep them updated. Solicit feedback when possible - is important for success. Use that feedback to bring in products students like!
Promote, promote, promote! Highlight new products to students, staff and parents and build excitement for the new, healthy snacks and beverages on campus. Remind them along the way about Smart Snacks.
Work
With
Vendors
Combine
Efforts
Promote!
Communicate

18. Key to success and customer approval?
Engaging students!
Finally, and perhaps the most important step, ENGAGE STUDENTS!
Students are the customer and ultimately who is affected most by these changes, so it is important to keep them up to date with what is going on and let them be a part of the change process whenever possible. Learning about their preferences and incorporating their feedback are keys to customer approval.
To help keep up revenue, find out student preferences before making change, such as through taste testing of healthier foods and beverages, and bring in products they like most. In addition to taste testing, you can hold focus groups or distribute surveys to students. When foods and beverages are changed, highlight where student feedback and student choice was incorporated.
When we have satisfied customers, we have a greater chance of students accepting healthier foods and beverages. Not only that, they are more likely to spread the word to their peers, which helps with promotion.

19. Let the Alliance help you stay on track!

20. HealthierGeneration.org