Competitive Foods in Schools
The school environment is one of several settings that can influence children’s food choices and eating habits. Schools can ensure that the available food and beverage options are healthy and help young people eat food that meets dietary recommendations for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat or low-fat dairy products.
What Are Competitive Foods?
As required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the United State Department of Agriculture has issued new “Smart Snacks in School
” nutrition standards for competitive foods and beverages sold outside of the federal reimbursable school meals program during the school day. These standards set limits on calories, salt, sugar, and fat in foods and beverages and promotes snack foods that have whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits, vegetables or protein foods as their main ingredients. These standards are the minimum requirement for schools. States and local education agencies can continue to implement stronger nutrition standards for all competitive foods in schools.
” nutrition standards for competitive foods and beverages sold outside of the federal reimbursable school meals program during the school day. These standards set limits on calories, salt, sugar, and fat in foods and beverages and promotes snack foods that have whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits, vegetables or protein foods as their main ingredients. These standards are the minimum requirement for schools. States and local education agencies can continue to implement stronger nutrition standards for all competitive foods in schools.
Institute of Medicine Report: Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools
To provide schools with guidance on improving the foods and beverages offered to students, CDC conducted a study with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to review the science and make recommendations about nutrition standards for foods and beverages offered in direct competition with school-provided meals and snacks. The study resulted in a report entitled,Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way toward Healthier Youth. The IOM recommendations serve as the gold standard for the availability and content of competitive foods in schools.
. The IOM recommendations serve as the gold standard for the availability and content of competitive foods in schools.Competitive Foods and Beverages in U.S. Schools: A State Policy Analysis
To determine how closely state competitive food policies align with the IOM’s Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools, CDC conducted an analysis of state laws and policies (as of October 1, 2010) that regulate the availability and content of competitive foods in schools. A codebook was developed by CDC researchers to guide the coding and analysis of state policies. As of October 2010, 39 states had adopted policies for competitive foods in schools, but the content of these policies varied by state and grade level.
Competitive Foods and Beverages in U.S. Schools: A State Policy Analysis
Codebook for Assessing State Nutrition Policies for Competitive Foods in SchoolsSuccessfully Implementing Strong Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods and Beverages: Case Studies of School Districts
To illustrate how schools and districts can implement strong nutrition standards for competitive foods without significant financial losses, CDC supported a study by the Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) and the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC) to examine eight school districts across the country. IPHI published findings and case studies in the report Controlling Junk Food and the Bottom Line: Case Studies of Schools Successfully Implementing Strong Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods and Beverages. Schools can use this resource to find examples of implementation strategies used to overcome challenges and support strong nutrition standards in schools.
. Schools can use this resource to find examples of implementation strategies used to overcome challenges and support strong nutrition standards in schools.What You Can Do
Fact Sheets
CDC developed a set of four audience-specific fact sheets as a resource for school staff, parents, and young people to use to support and develop strong nutrition standards that can impact the health of students at school. These fact sheets are designed to answer commonly asked questions about the IOM’s Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools report and provide recommendations for implementing the standards.
- For Parents, Guardians, Teachers, and School Staff
[pdf 1.5M]
- For School Boards, School Districts, and Other School Administrators
- For School Nutrition Service Personnel
- For Students
Use CDC’s fact sheet series as a resource to help develop and support strong nutrition standards for foods and beverages in schools:
- Review your school wellness policy to help ensure that the nutrition guidelines align with the IOM standards and that students have access to healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy during each school day.
- Examine the actual foods and beverages that are available to students including foods and beverages sold in vending machines, school stores, snack bars and as a' la carte items and determine if they meet the nutrition standards.
- Educate students about nutrition, offer and promote healthy food and beverage choices that meet the nutrition standards.
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