Smart Snacks in Schools

All foods sold on school property during the school day are required to meet Smart Snacks standards. The Smart Snacks in School regulation applies to foods sold a la carte, in the school store, vending machines, and any other venues where food is sold to students.

Policy & Guidance

• Colorado Healthy Beverages and Competitive Food Policies (PDF)
• Fundraiser Example Documentation Tracker
• Smart Snacks Product Calculator 
• Smart Snacks and Competitive Foods Quick Reference Guide
• Smart Snacks in School - Fact Sheet for Administrators
• USDA’s Guide to Smart Snacks in School

​Beverage and Food Sale Guidelines

• Sales at School Events: Other beverages may be sold during school-related events attended by parents and adults.
• Competitive Food Restrictions: Foods cannot be sold 30 minutes before or after each scheduled meal service in areas accessible to students.
• High School Beverage Exception: The restriction on competitive food service does not apply to mechanically-vended beverages sold to high school students.
• Fundraiser Exemptions: Schools are allowed three exempt fundraisers per building each year. These fundraisers are exempt from Smart Snacks standards but must still follow the Colorado Competitive Food Service Policy.
• Revenue from a la carte Sales: Revenue from a la carte sales by the school food service department must go to the nonprofit food service account as nonprogram revenue.
• Purchasing for School Groups: The school food service department can purchase food and beverages for other school groups to sell, following the guidelines in SP13-2014.

Coffee Guidance

The Smart Snacks Final Rule sets nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold to students during the school day, allowing caffeinated beverages only in high schools. 

Allowable Coffee Ingredients:

• Fat-free or 1% flavored/unflavored milk*
• 100% juice or diluted
• Black coffee, Americano, or plain tea

Calories and Volume Limits:

• No calorie beverages: coffee, tea (≤20 fl oz per serving)
• Low-Calorie Beverages: Lattes, hot chocolate (≤12 fl oz per serving, ≤5 calories per fl oz)

*Fat-free or low-fat milk calories may be subtracted from the total if used in coffee drinks. Milk flavoring may not count as a milk component for reimbursable meals.

Examples:

• 12 oz latte with whipped cream: only calories from whipped cream count towards the total.
• 8 oz iced caramel mocha: includes ice in the volume and counts caramel syrup in the calorie total.
• High school students can select milk with their reimbursable meal, buy coffee a la carte, and mix them together after the point of sale.