USDA Releases School Snack Nutrition Standards
After much anticipation, the USDA released the new “Smart Snacks in School” nutrition standards. These standards aim to improve the nutritional value of snacks offered by the schools.
After much anticipation, the USDA released the new “Smart Snacks in School” nutrition standards. These standards aim to improve the nutritional value of snacks offered by the schools.
In many schools, kids have access to snacks and beverages throughout the day from vending machines. Kids can also buy foods such as fries and cupcakes a la carte in the lunch line. But do kids really need fatty, sugary snacks available to them at all times?
On February 1st, the USDA released a landmark proposal (pdf) that sets forth new guidelines that will regulate the snacks that are able to be sold in schools and builds on improvements made to regulations guiding breakfast and lunch programs that emphasize the inclusion of more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.