Healthy Foods

According to the CDC, most U.S. children consume a large portion of their daily food intake at school, and competitive food sources (à la carte, vending, school stores) compete with federally regulated school meals, often offering foods and beverages high in calories, sugar, sodium, and fat.  In 2007, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which advises Congress on matters of health and science, issued a report entitled Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools. The report provided science-based recommendations about appropriate nutritional standards for the availability, sale, content, and consumption of competitive foods at school. The IOM recommended the federally reimbursable school nutrition programs should be the main source of nutrition in schools, and opportunities for competitive foods be limited. If competitive foods are available, they recommended standards apply, as well as to foods and beverages provided during school activities, such as classroom parties, classroom snacks, school celebrations, fundraisers, or school meetings, throughout the school day and after school during school events or activities. 

Healthier Food Options for elementary, middle, and high school students before, during, and after school as recommended by the IMO standards and published by the CDC include:

• ·         Individual fruits—apples, pear slices, or fruit cups packed in juice or water.
• ·         Vegetables—baby carrots, broccoli, edamame.
• ·         Dried or dehydrated fruit—raisins, apricots, cherries, bananas (without added sugars or fat).
• ·         100% fruit juice or 100% low-salt vegetable juice.
• ·         Low-fat, low-salt whole-grain crackers or chips.
• ·         Whole-grain, low-sugar cereals.
• ·         100% whole-grain mini bagels.
• ·         8-oz servings of low-fat or fat-free fruit-flavored yogurt with no more than 30 g of sugars.
• ·         8-oz servings of low-fat or fat-free chocolate or strawberry milk with no more than 22 g of sugars.
• ·         Low-sodium, whole-grain bars containing sunflower seeds, almonds, or walnuts (products like these must meet sugar, portion, and grain standards).

For high school students only, after school only

• ·         Low-sodium baked potato chips (200 mg or less), crackers, and pretzels low in sugar and fat.
• ·         Animal crackers with no more than 35% of calories from sugars.
• ·         Graham crackers with no more than 35% of calories from sugars.
• ·         Caffeine-free, calorie-free, non-fortified soft drinks.
• ·         Ice cream bars low in sugar and fat.

Additional Standards for Foods and Beverages

• ·         Make plain, drinkable water available throughout the school day at no cost to students.
• ·         Offer sports drinks only to student athletes engaged in school sport programs involving vigorous activity for more than 1 hour.
• ·         Foods and beverages should not be used as rewards or discipline for academic performance or behavior.