Texas Public School Nutrition Policy- Frequently Asked Questions

FN2004-1, March 16, 2004
Page 3

1. Are non-reimbursable snack lines and vending machines operated by school food service
considered competitive foods?

Answer: No, non-reimbursable snack lines and vending machines operated by school
food service are considered a la carte, not competitive. However, vended items
operated by groups other than school food service are considered competitive.

2. When you refer to snacks in the policy, are you talking about parents bringing snacks to
an elementary classroom?

Answer: Parents may provide any kind of snack for their own child's consumption, but
they may not provide any food items for other children in the class. .

3. Are snacks that are provided by the Head Start, After School Snack, Even Start and other
federally-funded programs considered competitive?

Answer: No, if the programs receive reimbursements from a federal program, the
snacks are not considered competitive.

4. How will this policy be monitored for compliance?

Answer: Compliance with the School Nutrition Policy will be monitored as part as the
normal TDA Child Nutrition Program on site monitoring process and other periodic
evaluations.

5. Can students have access to food in the classroom during the school day, such as a birthday party or a pizza party?

Answer: For elementary students to have access to food in the classroom during the school day, it must be one of the three approved annual events per school year determined by school officials, or a reimbursable meal catered/provided by the school food service department.

Middle school or junior high students may have access to food in the classroom except during meal periods. To have food in the classroom during the meal periods, it must be a reimbursable meal catered/provided by the school food service department. FMNVs are not allowed until after the last lunch period.

High school students may have access to food in the classroom except during meal periods and as long as the classroom has not been designated as a foodservice area where reimbursable meals are served and/or consumed.

6. Does the new policy apply to USDA-exempted foods and beverages?

Answer: Yes, USDA-exempted foods and beverages for Foods of Minimal Nutritional
Value are allowed as long as they follow the portion size restrictions on the Food and
Beverage Chart and other nutrition standards of the policy.

**********************************************************************************************

FN2004-1, March 16, 2004
Page 4

7. Can candy be used as a garnish? . .

Answer: No, items such as sprinkles, candy hearts and jelly beans, cannot be used t(J decorate baked items, such as cupcakes, cookies or other food items..

8. Which school level policy should K-12 schools follow?

Answer: If a school is unable to separate the grades in the cafeteria, then it must
follow the more restrictive policy, which in this case is the elementary policy. If the
grades can be separated, then they can follow the appropriate grade levels.

9. Will field trips or off-campus school-sponsored events during the school day be excluded
from this policy?

Answer: No, field trips and school-sponsored events during the school day are considered an extension of the school and therefore must comply with the policy. School-sponsored activities that take place after the school day has ended are not affected by this policy.

10. If a school operates the federally-funded After School Snack Program, is this
considered part of the school day?

Answer: Yes, the policy would be in effect until after the After School Snack Program
concludes for the day.

11. Do the nutrition standards apply to fundraising?

Answer: Yes, for middle/junior high and high schools. No food fundraising would be allowed on an elementary campus during the school day, because no competitive foods or FMNV are allowed on an elementary campus.

12. Why are the French fry standards different by school level?

Answer: French fries are one of the most popular food items consumed by children and are generally high in calories, fat, starch and salt. Therefore, to promote a larger variety of fruits and vegetables that are chosen by children, the serving size of fries and how often they may be offered is based on their age and grade level.

13. May students go through the line multiple times to purchase additional servings of fries?

Answer: Yes, but the intent of the policy is to discourage multiple servings of fries and to encourage schools to offer a greater variety of fruits and vegetables in order to promote a healthy nutrition environment.

14. If French fries served at school are baked, are they also limited?

Answer: Yes, although baked fries may be lower in fat, they are also limited by this
policy because the intent is to encourage the consumption of a variety of fruits and
vegetables.

***********************************************************************************************

FN2004-1, March 16, 2004
Page 5

15. If schools serve hash browns (a fried potato product) sometimes at breakfast, is this item
limited by the "Fats and Fried Foods" Nutrient Standard?

Answer: Yes, the limitations on the frequency of French fries and other fried potato
products include both breakfast and lunch. Example: If an elementary school serves
hash browns for breakfast, they cannot serve French fries or other fried potato
products for the rest of the week for either breakfast or lunch.

16. Why are potato chips not limited, too?

Answer: Potato chips are limited by portion size.

17. Are "breakfast only" schools required to follow this policy all day?

Answer: Yes, if they participate in the federal School Breakfast Program, they must comply all day.

18. What does the 30 percent of beverages made available through vending machines mean?

Answer: The goal of the policy is that each vending machine in a high school will contain no more than 30 percent sugared, carbonated drinks by the 2005-06 school.. year.