History of California School Nutrition

• California schools changed their nutritional standards in 2007. School districts had to follow new guidelines that changed a la carte, vending machines and school snack shops during the school day. The items changed included those that contained fat and sugar, as well as fried foods. Foods were broken down into competitive food items, such as Pepsi- or Coca Cola-sponsored vending machines and individually sold entrees.
  
  

Competitive Food Items

• The new guidelines stated that competitive foods may have no more than 35 percent calories from fat, but this excluded legumes, nut butters, seeds, non-deep fried vegetables, cheese packaged for individual sale, eggs and nuts. The guidelines also started that 10 percent of a food's calories could not be from saturated fats, excluding cheese and eggs packaged for individual sale. Competitive food items had to abide by new rules for sugar as well. Foods were not allowed to have more than 35 percent sugar by weight, excluding veggies and fruits. Items were not allowed to have more than 175 calories if sold in elementary schools, and items sold at middle and high school levels could not contain more than 250 calories.
  
  

Individually Sold Entrees

• In comparison to competitive food items, individually sold entrees had fewer restrictions. In terms of fat, individually sold entrees were not allowed more than 4 g of fat per 100 calories. These entrees also could not have more than 400 calories, and they had to follow the federal reimbursable meal requirements. California schools are awarded reimbursements from the federal government for each full meal that meets these requirements.
  
  

Drinks

• Elementary, middle and high schools must also follow guidelines pertaining to what drinks are available to students. Half of the drinks sold at schools throughout the school day, as well as before and after, must have vegetable and fruit bases without added sweeteners. Drinks such as sodas, bottled water, low-fat or nonfat milk, nondairy milk and sports drinks do not follow these guidelines. But exceptions allow for other drinks at some after-school functions, such as a sporting event.