Healthy Standards for Scheduled Snacks

Overarching Guidelines

  • Snacks should contain items from two of the snack categories listed below.
  • All items should have 0g trans-fat.
  • Water should be available at all snack times.

Milk and Milk Product Beverages

  • Non-fat or low-fat (1%) milk and milk products, preferably unsweetened.

Fruit or Vegetable

  • 100% fruit juice, with no added sweeteners (less than 8 oz. serving for adults).
  • Fresh and frozen fruits, instead of canned. If canned fruit is served, it should be canned in light syrup, unsweetened juice or water. Examples:
    • Apples
    • Bananas
    • Pears
    • Oranges
    • Dried fruit
    • Applesauce with no added sugar
    • Canned fruit in unsweetened juice, light syrup or water.
  • Vegetables that are fresh, frozen with no added sodium, or canned with low or no added sodium. Examples:
    • Carrot sticks
    • Celery sticks
    • Pepper slices
    • Salads

Bread or Grain

  • Items must contain at least 50% whole grains and the remaining should be enriched grains. Examples:
    • Whole wheat pita triangles
    • Whole grain cereal
    • Whole grain crackers
    • Whole grain bread
    • Rice cakes
    • Plain popcorn

Protein

  • A variety of lean proteins including meat, poultry, eggs, fish, seafood, beans, peas, nuts, seeds and soy products. Examples:
    • Hummus
    • Bean dip
    • Cottage cheese
    • Low-fat cheese
    • Hard boiled eggs
    • Low-fat or non-fat yogurt
    • Low-sodium tuna
    • Nuts
    • Nut butters
    • Sunflower seeds
    • Turkey slices