Healthy Snacks and Parties Guidelines

Healthy Snacks Guidelines

These healthy snack guidelines apply to items sold in a school at all times during the regular or extended school day, except for events at which adults are a significant part of the audience such as athletic events, carnivals or performances.

Snack Foods

Each individual food item may not contain any trans fat and will have no more than:

• 35% of its calories from fat (excluding legumes, nuts, seeds, nonfried vegetables, cheese, eggs, and other nut butters) and 10% of its calories from saturated (excluding nuts, eggs, and cheese)
• 35% of its weight from added sugars (does not apply to fruit and vegetables)
• 350 mg of sodium per serving for bread, sweets and salty snacks; 480 mg for nutrient-dense snacks, such as nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, dairy; 530 mg for pre-packaged entrees, such as “hot pockets,” soups, burritos; 600 mg for freshly made daily entrees.
• Elementary school (K–5) items may not contain more than 150 total calories.
• Middle school (6–8) items may not contain more than 180 total calories.
• High school (9–12) items may not contain more than 200 total calories.

Beverages

Kindergarten–5th Grade: Beverages will be limited to water and the following: 

• Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 8 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 120 calories per 8 ounces.
• Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 8 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 150 calories per 8 ounces.

6th–8th Grade: Beverages will be limited to water and the following: 

• Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 10 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 150 calories.
• Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 10 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 190 calories.

9th–12th Grade: Beverages will be limited to water and the following:

• Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 12 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 180 calories.
• Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 12 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 225 calories.
• A no-calorie or low-calorie beverage if the beverage contains no more than 10 calories per 8 ounces, excluding beverages defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value” (e.g., soda water).
• A beverage that is not more than 12 ounces and contains no more than 100 calories, excluding beverages defined by the USDA as “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value.”

Healthy Parties Guidelines

These healthy snack guidelines apply to food distributed during the school day as part of a celebration or school party.

Encouraged Beverages

Kindergarten–5th Grade: Beverages limited to water and the following: 

• Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 8 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 120 calories per 8 ounces.
• Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 8 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 150 calories per 8 ounces.

6th–8th Grade: Beverages limited to water and the following: 

• Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 10 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 150 calories).
• Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 10 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 190 calories).

9th–12th Grade: Beverages limited to water and the following:

• Fruit or vegetable juice, provided the beverage item is not more than 12 ounces, is 100% juice with no added sweeteners and contains no more than 180 calories.
• Milk or a nutritionally equivalent milk alternative, provided the beverage item is not more than 12 ounces, is fat-free or low-fat and, if flavored, contains no more than 225 calories.
• A no-calorie or low-calorie beverage if the beverage contains no more than 10 calories per 8 ounces, excluding beverages defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value” (e.g., soda water).
• A beverage that is not more than 12 ounces and contains no more than 100 calories, excluding beverages defined by the USDA as “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value.”

Not allowed: Beverages of Minimal Nutritional Value as defined by the USDA (soda water or “pop”).

Encouraged Foods

• Food items that do not contain any trans fat and have no more than:
• 35% of its calories from fat (excluding legumes, nuts, seeds, nonfried vegetables, cheese, eggs, and other nut butters) and 10% of its calories from saturated (excluding nuts, eggs, and cheese)
• 35% of its weight from added sugars (does not apply to fruit and vegetables)
• 350 mg of sodium per serving for bread, sweets and salty snacks; 480 mg for nutrient-dense snacks, such as nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, dairy; 530 mg for pre-packaged entrees, such as “hot pockets,” soups, burritos; 600 mg for freshly made entrees.

Portion Sizes

Portion sizes should be reasonable given the age of the student. Appropriate portion sizes for beverages are noted under “Beverages.”

Suggestions for Healthy Foods for Snacks and Parties

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Dips based on low-fat yogurt or sour cream (be aware of sugar and salt content)
• Canned fruits (preferably packed in natural fruit juices instead of syrups)
• Dried fruits
• Trail mix, chex mix, or popcorn-based snack mix (be aware of products that contain nuts or nut byproducts and sodium content)
• Granola bars (be aware of products that contain nuts or nut byproducts)
• Sunflower or pumpkin seeds
• Yogurt or soy-gurt
• Jerky
• Ritz chips
• Baked chips (be aware that Baked Cheetos and SunChips are higher in fat and sodium than other baked chip varieties)
• Salsa, guacamole, bean dip and fruit salsa
• Pita bread or pita chips and hummus dip
• Whole-grain cereals (be aware of sugar content)
• Whole-grain or multigrain crackers and cheese (cheese made with 2% milk is better)
• 100% frozen fruit juice bars
• Frozen yogurt
• Fruit smoothies (preferably yogurt- or sorbet- based)
• Whole-grain and fruit/vegetable breads and muffins: banana, zucchini, carrot or oatmeal bread, bran muffins, etc.
• Other fruit-based desserts: fruit and yogurt parfaits, strawberry shortcake, mixed berries with whipped cream, baked apples with granola topping
• Fruit or pretzels dipped in a yogurt-based coating: strawberries, raisins, cherries etc.
• Nabisco 100-calorie packs (Wheat Thins, Cheese Nips, Chips Ahoy, Oreo)
• Quaker Multigrain Minis (Honey Graham, Cinnamon Sugar)
• Graham cracker–based items: Honey Maid Squares, Teddy Grahams, Animal Crackers, Goldfish Giant Grahams etc. (individual packets and honey flavored is better)
• Nutrigrain bars
• Pretzels (low salt is better)
• Bagels (whole grain is better)
• Tortilla roll-ups: meat and cheese, cream cheese and salsa, etc. (cut into finger-size pieces)

Celebrations, the Eugene School District catering service, can assist with appealing and healthy classroom snacks and pizza parties.  Call 541-790-7654 or email catering@4j.lane.edu to support your local school district and serve healthy foods and beverages to kids.