Nutrition Standards

All foods and beverages sold to students during the school day outside of the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program must comply with the USDA Smart Snacks in School standards and applicable California competitive food and beverage requirements. These standards apply to items sold through vending machines, student stores, à la carte sales, and school-day fundraisers, helping ensure students have access to healthier food choices throughout the school day.

Evergreen School District's Nutrition & Food Guidelines, together with the District Wellness Policy, promote healthy eating habits and support compliance with federal and California nutrition standards. Our goal is to provide nutritious food choices while creating a healthy school environment that supports student wellness and
academic success.

Developing healthy eating habits is a lifelong skill. Just as children learn reading, writing, physical activity, and personal hygiene, healthy food choices help support their growth, well-being, and academic success. We appreciate the partnership of our families in supporting these healthy habits by following Evergreen School District's Nutrition & Food Guidelines.

Nutrition Standards for Foods
Any food sold in school must:

• Be a grain product that contains 50 percent or more whole grains by weight (have a whole grain as the first ingredient); 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 ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable; and
• The food must meet the nutrient standards for calories, sodium, fats, and total sugars.

Calorie limits:

• Snack items: 200 calories or less
• Entrée items: 350 calories or less

Sodium limits:

• Snack items: 200 mg or less
• Entrée items: 480 mg or less

Fat limits:

• Total fat: 35% of calories or less
• Saturated fat: less than 10% of calories
• Trans fat: 0 g

Sugar limit:

• 35% by weight or less

Beginning January 1, 2027, no food shall contain any of the following substances (no exceptions):

• Brominated vegetable oil
• Potassium bromate
• Propylparaben
• Red Dye 3

Beginning December 31, 2027, no food shall contain any of the following substances (no exceptions):

• Blue 1
• Blue 2
• Green 3
• Red 40
• Yellow 5
• Yellow 6

Evergreen School District is committed to providing nutritious, high-quality meals and creating a positive school nutrition environment. Our Child Nutrition Services program supports students by:

• Meeting current USDA meal pattern requirements and California nutrition standards.
• Offering a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the school week.
• Serving whole grain-rich foods as required by USDA standards.
• Providing meals that support student health, wellness, and academic success.
• Encouraging lifelong healthy eating habits.