School Nutrition Information

USDA Nutrition Standards For School Meals As of April 2024

Calorie Limits:: School meals must meet age-appropriate calorie minimums and maximums:

Sodium Limit:The following limits apply to the average amount of sodium in meals offered during the week

Sugar limits: New added sugar limits for breakfast cereal (≤6 g/oz), yogurt (≤12 g/6 oz) and flavored milk (10 g/8 oz) take effect in July 2025. In addition, beginning July 2027, schools must limit added sugars to a weekly average of less than 10 percent of calories per meal.

Limits on unhealthy fat: No more than 10 percent of the calories in school meals can come from saturated fat.

Low-fat and fat-free milk: Every school meal offers one cup of fat-free or 1 percent milk. Schools that choose to offer flavored milk options must also offer unflavored milk. Free water: Free drinking water must be available in the cafeteria during lunch and breakfast.

More fruits and vegetables: Since 2012, schools offer students larger portions of fruits and vegetables with every lunch. Choices must include weekly offerings of dark green vegetables, red/orange vegetables, and beans, peas or lentils. Every school breakfast must offer students a full cup of fruits or vegetables. Students are required to take at least one half-cup serving of fruits or vegetables with every school breakfast and lunch.

Whole grains: At least 80% of the grains offered with school meals must be whole grain-rich (containing at least 50% whole grains). Calorie limits: School meals mu

School Nutrition Association, SNA (May 2006) USDA Standards for School Meals https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/school-nutrition-standards-updates

Smart Snacks In School

Under Smart Snacks in Schools, or “Competitive Foods” must:

  • Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or

  • Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or

  • Be a combination food that contains at least 1/4 cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or

  • Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).

Foods must also meet several nutrient requirements:

Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions, middle/high schools up to 12-ounces of milk and juice. Beginning July 2025, elementary school flavored milk options must contain ≤ 10 g of added sugar per 8-ounces, while middle and high school options must contain ≤ 15 g of added sugar per 12-ounces.

High schools may sell additional “no calorie” and “lower calorie” beverage options, including caffeinated beverages. Offerings may include no more than 20-ounce portions of calorie-free, flavored water (with or without carbonation) and other flavored and/or carbonated beverages that contain < 5 calories per 8 fluid ounces or ≤ 10 calories per 20 fluid ounces. High schools may also offer no more than 12-ounce portions of beverages with ≤ 40 calories per 8 ounces, or ≤ 60 calories per 12 ounces.

Fundraisers: States may establish exemptions for items sold at infrequent fundraisers or bake sales.

Local Flexibility: States and/or local schools have the flexibility to maintain or establish their own more stringent standards for competitive foods, if they meet the minimum federal standards.

School Nutrition Association, SNA (May 2, 2006) Smart Snacks In School https://schoolnutrition.org/resource/smart-snacks-in-schools/