EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
6531 Boeing Dr. El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 881-2700
EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
6531 Boeing Dr. El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 881-2700
In 2004, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) implemented a much more restrictive policy on foods that are provided to students. The policy is aggressively enforced and schools found to have violated the policy will lose up to three weeks of meal reimbursement funds from the state and will be required to reimburse the food service account for the lost reimbursement. The policy applies to foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV), and any type of candy and also restricts the provision of "competitive foods", which are all foods and beverages not provided by school food services. The policy also limits the number of grams of fat and sugar Texas schoolchildren are served each week, restricts portion sizes for items such as chips, cookies, frozen desserts and beverages, and calls for phasing out deep-fat frying in schools. Nutrition policy exemptions allow for such events as birthday parties, pizza parties and classroom snacks (see the Exemptions section on facing page for details). The full Texas Public School Nutrition policy is available on the Texas Department of Agriculture Web site at www.squaremeals.org. Policy highlights include:
| Policy | Elementary Schools (a campus containing a combination of grades early elementary to 6) |
Middle/Junior High Schools (a campus containing grades 6, 7 and 8, grades 7 and 8, or grades 7, 8 and 9) |
High Schools (a campus containing a combination of grades 9, 10, 11 and 12) |
FMNV
|
Not allowed at anytime during the school day. (certain exemptions are allowed for school nurses, students with special needs and up to three school wide events pre-approved by district officials) |
Not allowed at anytime during the school day. (certain exemptions are allowed for school nurses, students with special needs and up to three school wide events pre-approved by district officials) |
In 2009-2010 they will not be allowed any time during the school day. (certain exemptions are allowed for school nurses, students with special needs and up to three schoolwide events pre-approved by district officials) |
| CANDY (including candy bars and packaged candies not included as FMNVs) |
Not allowed at any time during the school day. (certain exemptions are allowed for students with special needs and up to three school wide events pre-approved by district officials) |
Not allowed at anytime during the school day. (certain exemptions are allowed for students with special needs and up to three school wide events pre-approved by district officials) |
Not allowed at anytime during the school day. (certain exemptions are allowed for students with special needs and up to three school wide events pre-approved by district officials) |
| CARBONATED BEVERAGES | Not allowed at any time during the school day. | Not allowed at anytime during the school day. | Not allowed at anytime during the school day. |
| COMPETITIVE FOODS (all food and beverages that are not provided by school food service) Must follow portion size restrictions. |
Not allowed at any time during the school day. (see exemptions listed below) |
Not allowed 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after meal periods. | Not allowed during meal periods in areas where reimbursable meals are served and consumed. |
| Where & When | Nutrition Policy |
| Classroom birthday parties | Foods otherwise restricted by the policy are permitted at student birthday parties. It is recommended that such parties be scheduled after the end of the last lunch period so that these celebrations will not replace a nutritious lunch. Federal regulations do not permit FMNV to be served in the food service area during meal periods. |
| School Events | Students may be given FMNV, candy items or other restricted foods during the school day for up to three different events each school year to be determined by district. The exempted events must be approved by a district official. During these events, FMNV may not be given during meal times in the areas where school meals are being served or consumed, and regular meal service (breakfast and lunch) must continue to be available to all students in accordance with federal regulations. Parties during meal time are not allowed on these days. |
| Pizza parties, etc. | The intent of the policy is to encourage the consumption of nutritious, well-balanced meals and to limit the availability of high-fat items during the school day. There has been confusion about pizza or other foods being served at school parties. Schools may not allow alternative meals (pizza, BBQ, sandwiches, etc.) to be provided to students in competition with meals made available by the school food service department under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Administrators should work in conjunction with their school food service department when planning special events or meals. |
| Elementary School Classroom Snacks | Elementary classrooms may serve one nutritious snack per day in the morning or afternoon
(not during regular meal periods for that class) under the teacher’s guidance. The classroom snack may be provided by the school food service, the teacher, parents or other groups and should be at no cost to students. Prepackaged snacks must comply with the fat and sugar limits of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy, and must be single-size servings. All snacks (homemade and prepackaged) may not contain any FMNVs or consist of candy or dessert type items (cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pudding, ice cream or frozen desserts, etc.). For nutritious snack ideas, see TDA’s listing of "Suggestions for Nutritious Snacks", available on request and at www.squaremeals.org. |
| Snacks for TAKS Test Days | Schools and parents may provide one additional nutritious snack per day for students taking the TAKS tests. The snack must comply with the fat and sugar limits of the Public School Nutrition Policy and may not contain any FMNV or consist of candy, chips or dessert type items (cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pudding, ice cream or frozen desserts, etc.). |
| Field Trips | Campus-approved field trips are exempt from nutrition policy. |
| Competitive Foods for Elementary Schools | The competitive foods policy section for elementary schools states that it does "not pertain to food items made available by the school food service department." This does not mean, however, that dessert-type items (cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, etc.) are allowable outside meal hours simply if provided by the food service department. The intent of the policy is to encourage the consumption of nutritious food by students and to limit access to high-fat, high-sugar items during the school day. Therefore, the only food that may be made available to elementary school students on campus during the school day, at times other than meal periods, is a nutritious classroom snack allowed by the policy. This does not apply to student birthday parties or any other exemption as established by the policy. |
| Athletic, UIL, Band and Other Competitions | The nutrition policy does not apply to students who leave campus to travel to athletic, UIL, band or other competitions. The school day is considered to have ended for these students. School activities, athletic functions, etc., that occur after the normal school day are not covered by the policy. |
| USDA Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value Exemption List | USDA periodically provides a list of products that are exempt from the FMNV regulation. However, foods that are exempt from the FMNV regulation are not equally exempt from the TPSNP. Exempted foods must meet TPSNP standards in order to be served or provided to students of school campuses. |
| Fund-raising activities | For middle and high school campuses, the nutrition policy will apply to food fund-raising during the school day. No food fund-raising will be allowed on an elementary school campus during the school day; however, schools or school-approved organizations may take orders or sell vouchers during the school day for candy or other restricted items and deliver these items after the end of the school day. Students may order or purchase such items during the school day as long as they receive the items after the school day ends. |
Fruit juice; Fruit smoothie; Milk, non-fat or low-fat (plain or flavored); Bagel (1/2); Graham crackers; Animal crackers; Wheat crackers; English muffin (whole wheat); Rice cakes and mini rice cakes, flavored; Fig bars; Fruit or grain muffin (low-fat); Dry cereal, individual servings; Pretzels; Baked tortilla chips with salsa; Vanilla wafers; Fresh seasonal fruit; Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower with low-fat dip or salad dressing; Fruit snacks; Low-fat string cheese; Fruit/grain bars; Frozen fruit bars; 94 percent fat-free popcorn; Fruit, nut and/or grain trail mixes; Peanut butter & crackers; Fruit pico; Corn on cob with paprika or chili powder.
Wellness policy: As of July 1, 2006, each school district participating in school nutrition programs authorized by the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 is required to have a Wellness Policy in place, which includes goals for nutrition education, physical activity and nutrition guidelines, and a plan for measuring implementation of such policy. Further information on this requirement may be accessed on the TDA Web site at www.squaremeals.org.
How is a "school day" defined?"
Does this policy prohibit school teachers form using competitive foods as an instructional tool in the classroom?
Do these nutrition standards apply to fundraising?
For more information please view links below.
Texas Public School Nutrition Policy
Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (pdf file)
Any questions or concerns regarding the Texas Public School Nutrition policy may be directed to the TDA, Food and Nutrition Division, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, TX 78711 or call toll-free at 888-TEX-KIDS.
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