Background / Resources

USDA's nutrition standards are outdated for foods sold out of vending machines, school stores, and other venues outside the school lunch program. Nationally, 83% of elementary schools, 97% of middle/junior high schools, and 99% of senior high schools sell foods and beverages out of vending machines, school stores, or a la carte in the cafeteria.

The sale of foods outside of the meal programs can negatively affect children's diets, since many are high in calories, added sugars, and fat and low in nutrients.

Parents should not have to worry that their children will spend their lunch money on low-nutrition foods from vending machines, school stores, and a la carte in the cafeteria, instead of on balanced school meals.

 Girl eating fruit
  1. The Need to Update USDA's School Nutrition Standards for Foods Sold Outside of Meals
    Sale of Low-Nutrition Food in Schools
  2. School Food Funding Myths 2010
    National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity report
  3. School Foods Report Card
    Find out your state's policy on nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold outside of school meals
  4. Improving School Food without Losing Money
    Resources on Revenue Issues Related to School Foods
  5. Model Resolution for School Boards (or as MS Word)
  6. "Sweet Deals": School Fundraising can be Healthy and Profitable
  7. Raw Deal
    School Beverage Contracts Less Lucrative Than They Seem
  8. School Foods Outside of Meals

    Research Brief on Competitive Foods by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation


 


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