What are Smart Snacks?
In 2015, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), established guidelines for ALL foods sold during the school day. Their goal was to offer healthier snack foods to children instead of junk food! This guideline is known as ‘Smart Snacks in Schools’. This program applies to any food sold in competition with the reimbursable meals provided by the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Smart Snacks in Schools ensure that students across the country will be given healthier school snacks and lunches with more fruits, vegetables and whole grains! This serves to ensure that students are only offered tasty and nutritious foods during the school day that help curb childhood obesity!
The Smart Snacks in Schools is utilized at the Focus Learning Academy North and Central schools along with the Competitive Foods rules. See the information below to help plan for upcoming events on campus!
The USDA Requires that we check all snacks to ensure that they meet the national Smart Snacks Guidelines. To use the calculator please click here.
What qualifies as a Smart Snack?
Food items qualify as a Smart Snack if they are a whole grain or the 1st ingredient is listed as a fruit, vegetable, dairy, protein food and they must meet the following nutrition standards:
What is a Competitive Food?
Competitive Foods: All food and beverages, other than meals reimbursed under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, on the school campus at any time during the school day.
School day- The period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day.
Extended school day: Time students are at school after regular school day, including but not limited to, participation in extracurricular activities or child care programs.
School campus: all areas of property under the jurisdiction of school that are accessible to students during the school day.
When can competitive foods be sold in schools?
Ohio requires that no food items are sold to students in competition with the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program. Fundraiser food or beverages sold during school may not be sold during, 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after each scheduled meal service and they must meet Smart Snacks in Schools food and nutrition standards.
Where do Smart Snacks and Competitive Food Rules apply?
Foods sold in the school cafeteria that are not part of the reimbursable school meal as well as vending machines, school stores, bake sales and other food-based fundraisers.
What about fundraisers?
All food-based fundraisers at Focus Academies of Columbus' schools will be subject to the new nutrition standards established by the Smart Snacks regulation. Please note the following as you plan fundraisers to be conducted during the school year.
There is no limit to the number of fundraisers conducted that are not food-based (school supplies, spirit gear, etc)
There is no limit to the number of fundraisers that are food-based but these fundraisers must meet the Smart Snack nutrition standards and must not be sold during, 30 minutes before or after school meal periods.
The Ohio Department of Education’s Office of School Nutrition has established that each school is allowed 3 food-based fundraisers per school year that may be exempt from the ‘Smart Snacks’ nutrition standards.
These rules do not apply to foods sold outside of the school day or food fundraisers not meant to be consumed at school.
Holiday celebrations are exempt from the Smart Snacks guidelines.
The USDA Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools....
Can help parents, school faculty and the general public understand how to offer more healthy choices to our student. Click on the photo to the left to download a copy of the USDA Smart Snacks guideline or click here.
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.