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.”