Children in states with school snack regulations consume fewer calories

Children in states with school snack regulations consume, on average, fewer calories than kids in states where those aren’t in place, finds a small new study. Some states, including Florida and Illinois, follow the USDA’s 2013 “Smart Snacks” rule that calls for more nutritional snacks — low-fat and low-sugar items, for instance — to be available in schools over more calorie-rich foods. Students who lived in those states ate about 60 fewer calories from solid fats and sugar per day than those kids who lived in states that didn’t adopt the rule. Those in the former group also consumed fewer solid fats overall. However, the rule didn’t lead to students eating less snacks in general.