How the Healthy Foods for Beverage and Snack Machines policy affects Parents, PTA's, Booster Clubs, and School Organizations

• View a List of Restricted Foods
• View a List of Recommended Foods

Recently, the AISD School Board, Superintendent, and Director of Food Services took the initiative to support the health and academic excellence of every child in the district by changing the content of school meals and vending machines to offer more nutritious choices to students.

Under their Initiative for Healthy Children, AISD also prohibited the sale or distribution of "Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value," (FMNV'S) during the school day, at all grade levels. The items on this USDA list are limited to: carbonated beverages, water ices not made with 100% fruit juice, chewing gum products, hard candies, jellies and gums, candy coated popcorn, marshmallow candies, licorice, and cotton candy.

Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value cannot be sold or distributed to students during the school day. This rule does not apply to after school events like carnivals. It does apply to school parties, but cupcakes, cookies, Kool-Aid, and a host of other "fun" party foods are not considered by the USDA to be FMNV's. Pizza parties are not affected, nor are fundraising efforts, so long as they do not include the sale of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value until after the end of the school day. Your child can bring a Food of Minimal Nutritional Value, but they are not able to share or give away to another student(s) or class.

You can support the District Initiative for Healthy Children by choosing healthier foods or non-food items for fundraising efforts. It is important to educate our children about the importance of good nutrition both at home and at school. For information and resources on this go to: Team Nutrition at http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn.

Please contact Tracy Diggs, AISD Student Health Services Coordinator, at (512) 414-9778 or tdiggs@austinisd.org for more information.