Texas Public School Nutrition
It's Time for Nutritious Foods and Texas Schools are Leading the Way
- MORE HEALTHY CHOICES
- Schools now serve fruits and vegetables on all points of service.
- Schools offer reduced-fat milk options, baked French fries and other baked potato products, as well as many items with reduced fat content.
- Previously fried (manufactured) foods served at school are now being baked or heated by methods other than deep-fat frying.
- Milk, unflavored water and 100 percent fruit and/or vegetable juices are served at school.
- Schools may serve one nutritious snack that meets nutrition policy guidelines.
- Foods and beverages served or made available at school adhere to age-appropriate nutrition standards and portion size guidelines to ensure students eat well-balanced, proper-sized food items.
- In an ongoing effort to promote the consumption of healthier foods/beverages, food fundraising and access to vending machines operated by anyone other than school food service are available after the school day.
- Schools encourage balanced choices when allowing food and beverages otherwise restricted by the nutrition policy during student birthday parties, field trips and other pre-approved special events.
LESS FAT
HEALTHIER PREPARATION
BETTER BEVERAGES
SNACK CONTROL
NUTRITION AND PROPER PORTIONS
FOOD FUNDRAISING/VENDING
CELEBRATE IN MODERATION
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 campus 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 campus officials) |
Not allowed during meal periods in areas where reimbursable meals are served and consumed. In 2009-2010 they will not be allowed any time during the school day. |
| 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 campus 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 campus officials) |
Allowed with portion sizes that must be followed. 1.5 ounces for packaged candies. |
| CARBONATED BEVERAGES | Not allowed at any time during the school day. | Not allowed at anytime during the school day. | Sugared, carbonated beverages cannot be sold in containers larger than 12 oz. and are not allowed during meal periods in areas where reimbursable meals are served and consumed. No more than 30 percent of beverages in vending machines can be sugared, carbonated drinks. |
| COMPETITIVE FOODS (all food and beverages that are not provided by school food service) |
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. |
Nutrition Policy Exemptions
| 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 campus. The exempted events must be approved by a school 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. With the exception of school birthday 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. |
Suggestions For Nutritious Snacks From The TDA
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a "school day" defined?"
- The school day is defined as beginning with the start of the first breakfast period until the end of the last instruction period of the day (last bell). School activities, athletic functions, etc., that occur after the normal school day are not covered by this policy. If a school operates the federally funded After School Snack Program, the policy will be in effect until this concludes for the day.
Which school-level policy should K-12 schools follow?
- K-12 schools may follow the policy requirements for middle/junior high schools.
Does this policy prohibit school teachers form using competitive foods as an instructional tool in the classroom?
- School teachers may use food for instructional purposes as long as the food items are not considered FMNVs or candy.
Do these nutrition standards apply to fundraising?
- For middle school and high school campuses, the nutrition standards 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. A list of non-food fund-raising ideas is available on the TDA Web site at www.squaremeals.org.
For more information please view links below.
Texas Public School Nutrition Policy
Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (pdf file)
Policy Questions
Snack Suggestions
Nutrition Calculator
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.
