EfE- Student wellness
Date Adopted: 5 April 2006
Current Review / Revision: 18 June 2025
All school districts which participate in the National School Lunch Program and receive funds under that program
thereby become subject to the regulations upon which this policy is based.
Definitions—
The following definitions apply in this policy:
1. “School day” means the period from midnight before a school day to thirty minutes after the end of a school’s calendared class time.
2. “School campus” means all areas of the school property which are accessible to students during the school day.
3. “Available for sale” means the item may be exchanged for currency (in any form), tokens, or tickets.
4. “Competitive food” means all food and beverages available for sale to students on the school campus during the school day except for meals reimbursed under the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.
Utah Admin. Rules R277-719-2 (April 9, 2018)
Required Nutrition Standards—
All competitive food (as defined above) must meet the USDA nutrition standards unless it falls within one of the exemptions below. A summary of the competitive food nutrition standards is attached as Appendix A. District employees may use a Smart Snacks calculator to evaluate whether a competitive food meets nutrition standards.
(See https://foodplanner.healthiergeneration.org/calculator.)
Vending Machines
The District recognizes the monetary benefit that vending machines give to schools. Each school that elects to have vending machines on campus shall monitor said machines to ensure that items sold meet the Smart Snacks in Schools standards. Vending machines will not be made available to students in elementary schools. Vending machines in middle and high schools will not be made available while breakfast and lunch are being served.
Utah Admin. Rules R277-719-4(4) (April 9, 2018)
Exemptions from Standards—
The following are exempt from compliance with the competitive food nutrition standards:
1. Any entrée item which is offered as part of the school lunch or school breakfast program, when offered as competitive food on the day, or on the following school day, that it is also offered as part of the school lunch or school breakfast program. Such competitive food offerings must be offered in the same or smaller portion sizes as the lunch or breakfast program offerings. However, side dishes offered as part of the lunch or breakfast program and served à la carte must meet the competitive food nutrition standards.
2. Sugar free chewing gum
3. Specially exempted fundraisers. Competitive food may be sold as part of an infrequent fundraiser sponsored by the school, subject to the following restrictions. The allowed number of such exempted fundraisers is three times per year per school. (Upon written request of a career and technical education program, the State Superintendent may grant permission to exempt additional fundraisers.) The exempted fundraiser may not last more than five consecutive days. Any competitive food sold as part of a fundraiser which is not exempted must meet the competitive food nutrition standards.
Utah Admin. Rules R277-719-5(2), (3) (April 9, 2018)
Food and Beverages Not Subject to Regulation—
The Smart Snacks in Schools regulations apply to food and beverages sold to students on the school campus during the school day. The following are not within the scope of this regulation and are not required to meet the competitive food nutrition standards:
1. Food and beverages which are not sold. This includes food or beverages which are brought to school by students (home lunches, for example). It also includes food or beverages which are given to students without the exchange of any currency, tokens or tickets (for example, snacks or treats given out in connection with a birthday celebration).
2. Food and beverages sold after the school day. This includes food and beverages sold during the time period beginning 30 minutes after the end of a school’s calendared class time until midnight (a common example would be concessions sold during an evening athletic event).
3. Food and beverages not sold on the school campus. The school campus is defined as all areas which are accessible to students. Food or beverages sold in areas which are not accessible to students (which might for example include a teacher's lounge) are not required to meet the nutrition standards.
4. Food and beverages not sold to students. Food or beverages sold to persons other than students (for example, parents or school staff) are not required to meet the nutrition standards.
Previous Revision - 3 May 2017