Smart Snacks Overview

Stephanie Simms- National PTASchool Nutrition Policy FellowNancy Lyons- U.S. Dept. of AgricultureSenior Policy Analyst, Child Nutrition Division

Background

• Smart Snacks guidelines went into effect on July 1, 2014• Part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010 that

improved the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program

• Federal guidelines further policies, restrictions, exemptions are determined by each state

Why Smart Snacks?

• Children are seeing a healthier school environment through both the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program

• Encourages children to make healthy choices • PTA delegates passed a resolution at the 2004 National PTA

Convention calling for stronger national guidelines for all foods sold in school

• Consistent messaging about healthy eating

Smart Snacks Guidelines

Smart Snacks guidelines applies to “Competitive Foods”• “foods and beverages sold to students on campus during

the school days which are not a part of the reimbursable meal program” (Campus is defined by the individual school and the school day is midnight before the school day to 30 minutes after school releases)

Source: USDA; 2013. http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/faqs

Smart Snacks Guidelines

• Foods and beverages that must meet Smart Snack guidelines include those found in:• à la carte lines• vending machines• snack bars• school stores• fundraisers (unless exempted)

Is it a Smart Snack?

• Is it a food or beverage?• Is it sold during school hours (midnight prior to the school

day to 30 minutes after school releases)?• Is it sold to students?• Is it sold on the school campus?• Is it sold as a fundraiser or in an à la carte line, vending

machine, snack bar, school store, etc.?If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, then your product must meet Smart Snack guidelines.

Determining if it is a Smart Snack

• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Product Calculator: http://tools.healthiergeneration.org/calc/calculator/

• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Product Navigator: https://www.healthiergeneration.org/live_healthier/eat_healthier/alliance_product_navigator/

• USDA Smart Snacks Information: http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/smart-snacks-school

Fundraisers

• Must meet Smart Snacks guidelines if it is a food or beverage sold during the school day on the school campus

• Some states are allowing fundraiser exemptions for schools: http://www.nasbe.org/healthy_schools/hs/bytopics.php?topicid=3115&catExpand=acdnbtm_catC

• Healthy fundraisers, including food and non-food, that meet the guidelines will be available for you on the National PTA Smart Snacks page: www.pta.org/smartsnacks

(launching at the end of September/beginning of October)

Fundraisers

• Catalog fundraisers (cookie dough, frozen pizzas) and items not intended to be consumed at school during the school day by students are exempt from Smart Snacks guidelines

• No limits for fundraisers that meet Smart Snacks guidelines• Foods and beverages sold outside of the defined school day

or off campus do not have to meet Smart Snacks guidelines• Individual schools may have policies regarding what can and

cannot be sold at fundraisers- be sure to check your local wellness policy.

Celebrations & Events

• Foods and beverages not sold such as those given away at birthday parties or field day do NOT have to meet the Smart Snacks guidelines

• Some local wellness policies are regulating what foods and beverages are served at celebrations or events so be sure to check that before bringing foods and beverages to school

Compliancy

• Local Education Agencies (LEA) must determine if a school is compliant with Smart Snacks guidelines

• Within a school it may vary who is responsible for that school’s compliancy; it may be the principal or another administrator

• Reach out to your school and see who is in charge of making sure foods and beverages sold at school during the day are compliant with Smart Snacks guidelines

Ways Your PTA Can Help

• Work with the school nutrition staff to understand how PTA can support them in gaining acceptance of the new standards

• Incorporate foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks guidelines into PTA events

• Open dialogue with school staff• Support schools in implementing the changes to provide

healthier foods and beverages to every student

School Wellness Policies

• Update nutrition guidelines for activities, meetings, celebrations, events, etc. to reflect Smart Snacks guidelines

• Learn more about how you can get involved with your school wellness policy at www.pta.org

Healthier US School Challenge

• Smart Snacks guidelines for Healthier US School Challenge schools: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cn/2014hussc_criteria.pdf

• Criteria for all levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold Award of Distinction

USDA Website & Resourceshttp://www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday/tools-schools-smart-snacks

USDA Website & Resources

What’s Next

• National PTA Implementation Guide distributed to all state and local PTAs in October that includes additional resources from other organizations

• Smart Snacks webpage to be launched at the end of September/beginning of October: www.pta.org/smartsnacks

• Web or in-person trainings by the School Nutrition Policy Fellow can be requested at schoolfoods@pta.org

• For further assistance contact the School Nutrition Policy Fellow at schoolfoods@pta.org

• Highlight section for your fundraiser on the webpage• Additional webinars TBD

Questions?

If you have additional questions that were not answered during the webinar, please contact the School Nutrition Policy Fellow at schoolfoods@pta.org