July 2014
New, healthier food options on the
way to EPS cafeterias
T
he last two years have seen big changes in the
foods offered in the lunch lines at Evergreen
Public Schools (EPS). The United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) now requires schools to serve more
fruits, whole grains, and dairy to students of all ages.
Starting July 1, new regulations will affect foods and
beverages sold in vending machines and student stores.
The new initiative – Smart Snacks in School – is
aimed at limiting the amount of junk food sold to
students during the school day. The regulations include
limits on calories, serving size, sodium, fat and sugar.
The chart below shows some of the differences.
In response to the new standards, students at Heritage
High School (HHS) have been researching new options
for their store. Store advisor Shawn Perez said the
project was a great learning experience as students used
new tools to analyze snack options, test them with
students, and market them.
“The USDA has a great tool to determine whether or
not a food or beverage fits within the new guidelines,”
said Perez. “And the students had a lot of fun finding
new snack options and conducting taste tests.”
While students are working to identify snacks in
the stores, the district’s food service managers are
partnering with suppliers to make sure anything offered
in a vending machine meets the new guidelines. In some
instances, new portion sizes will require a change in
packaging at the source.
New tools for parents
To help parents navigate the changes, the USDA
has launched on online tool kit to outline each and
every aspect of the Smart Snacks in School program.
That kit can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/
healthierschoolday.
Starting in the fall, EPS parents will have access to
NutriSlice, a new app designed to provide detailed
information on foods being served in the district’s
cafeterias each day.
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