School Wellness & Smart Snacks
Schools play an essential role in creating a healthy environment for students to grow and learn every day. Schools not only provide nutritious meals and time for physical activity, but they also educate Idaho’s children about the importance of nutrition and physical fitness. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that good nutrition and physical activity contribute to improved academic performance, attendance rates, behavior and lifelong health, and well-being.
The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 directed the USDA to establish nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold to students in school during the school day, including foods sold through school fundraisers. The Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards will help make the healthy choice the easy choice by offering the students more of the foods and beverages that research has shown are essential for health. These options include whole grains, fruits and vegetables, leaner protein, and lower-fat dairy.
Wellness Policy Requirements
Federal legislation requires school districts to implement a local wellness policy that must include language:
- Permitting parents, students, school board, PE teachers, school health professionals, school food service staff, administrators, and community members to participate in the development, implementation, review, and update of the local wellness policy.
- Identifying wellness policy leadership of one or more LEA and/or school official(s) who have the authority and responsibility to ensure each school complies with the wellness policy.
- Specifying measurable goals for nutrition education, nutrition promotion, physical activity, and other school-based activities to promote student wellness that are written with consideration for evidence-based strategies.
- Addressing nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages sold on the school campus during the school day and for providing school meals that adhere to Federal meal pattern requirements.
- Identifying nutrition standards for non-sold foods and beverages available during classroom and school celebrations.
- Stating a policy for food and beverage marketing that allows the marketing and advertising of only those foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
- Addressing an evaluation conducted once every three years of the wellness policy and the extent to which schools are in compliance, how the district policy compares to model wellness policies, and the progress made in attaining local wellness policy goals.
- Identifying a way to share the wellness policy content and implementation with the public.
Final Rule
There is a Summary of the Final Rule for Local School Wellness Policies posted on the FNS Website. This resource provides a brief description of the background of the rule, summary of the updates to the wellness policy requirements, and a list of resources.
Helpful Information
To access information, click the appropriate + sign below.
Downloads
Triennial Assessment
Wellness Policy Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation
- Developing Wellness Policy Implementation Plan
- Implementation and Monitoring Plan
- Monitoring and Evaluating Wellness Policies
Wellness Policy Examples
- Sample Idaho Wellness Policy Final Rule
- Sample RCCI Wellness Policy
- UCONN WellSAT 3.0 Wellness Policy Evaluation
Tools for Success
- USDA Wellness Policy Tools and Resources
- Making it Work! Getting Non-food Service School-Based Groups on Board
- Wellness Policy Requirements Elements of Implementation
Smart Snack General Information
- Coffee Bar Fact Sheet for High School Students
- Food and Beverages Chart
- Idaho Smart Snacks in School Policy
- USDA Smart Snacks General Information
Fundraiser Information
Smart Snack Standards
- Final Rule All Food Sold in School
- Final Rule Questions and Answers
- Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards and Culinary Education Programs
- Smart Snacks Standards for Exempt Foods when Paired Together Memo
- State Agency Fundraiser Elections and Exemptions Memo
- Transition of Foods to Smart Snacks in Schools Standards Memo
External Resources
Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation
State and National Data Supporting Local Wellness Policies
- Linking Health and Academics
- Local Wellness Policy Resources
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
Teaching Nutrition in the Classroom Curriculum
These curriculum resources are free to schools who participate in the National School Lunch Program or other USDA child nutrition programs.
- Dig In! Standards-Based Nutrition Education from the Ground Up — Grades 5-6
- Discover My Plate — Kindergarten
- Resources for Educators
- Serving Up My Plate — Grades 1-6
- The Great Garden Detective Adventure — Grades 3-4
Tools for Success
- The School Day Just Got Healthier Toolkit
- CDC Healthy Schools
- Food Models with Nutrition Facts Label
- National Alliance for Nutrition Activity
- Nutrition Promotion Popular Events Idea Booklet
- Nutrition Education for Teachers
- Wellness Policy – Helpful Links from USDA
Smart Snacks
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find ideas to implement my own wellness policy?
For ideas on developing and implementing your wellness policy, the USDA has assembled a clearinghouse for resources through one website. You will find everything from model wellness policies and school site examples to wellness funding opportunities and research on school wellness and academic performance. Visit their Local Wellness Policy Resources site to view these ideas.
What is not included in Smart Snacks?
- Food sold at school outside of regular school hours
- School hours are defined as midnight to ½ hour after school.
- Fundraiser foods not intended for consumption during school, such as frozen food fundraisers
- Foods brought from home for personal consumption, such as home-packed lunches.
CNP Divisions
Quick Links
Nondiscrimination Statement
Student Photovoice Checklist
Contact
Pamela Murray, MS, SNS
Coordinator
(208) 332-6831
pmurray@sde.idaho.gov