Implementing Smart Snacks Standards in Schools: The good, the bad and the ugly

Over the past four decades, the obesity rate among children and adolescents has more than tripled putting them at risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pres­sure and Type 2 diabetes. Since many students are consuming up to half of their daily caloric intake at school, the foods and beverages available in schools have a significant impact on chil­dren’s health and weight. In addition to meals, students can buy snack foods and beverages at school from multiple locations, including a la carte lines, vending machines, and schools stores, which are often energy-dense and nutrient-poor. Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, these snacks and drinks, called ‘competitive foods’, or commonly, “Smart Snacks”, will be required to meet updated nutrition standards from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) which incorporate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy, while limiting calories, fats, sugar and sodium.

Through the American Heart Association and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Voices for Healthy Kids Initiative, state leaders and national partners like The PEW Charitable Trust are working with states to launch and implement the new USDA guidelines. While all states are required to comply with these standards, there are large discrepancies among all the states. This session will focus on successes and challenges from the states’ implementation of Smart Snacks Standards and highlight some of the emerging best practices from around the country.