Guidance

General Information  |   Competitive Foods  |   Cafeteria A La Carte Sales
Culinary Programs  |   Grain-only Entrees at Breakfast  |   Evaluating Compliance
Exemptions for Paired Exempt Foods  |   Fundraisers  |   School Stores  |   Vending Machines

General Information

• A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools (USDA)
• Comparison of the Connecticut Nutrition Standards and the USDA's Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards (CSDE)
• Overview of Federal and State Laws for Competitive Foods in Connecticut Public Schools, Private Schools, and RCCIs (CSDE)
• Questions and Answers on Smart Snacks (USDA)
• Requirements for Competitive Foods in Non-HFC Public Schools (CSDE)
• Requirements for Competitive Foods in Private Schools and RCCIs (CSDE)
• Resources for Meeting the Federal and State Requirements for Competitive Foods in Schools (CSDE)
• Smart Snacks (Alliance for a Healthier Generation)
• Smart Snacks in School: How Can You Help? Ideas for Parents (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Smart Snacks in Schools (USDA)
• Summary Chart: Federal and State Requirements for Competitive Foods in Non-HFC Public Schools (CSDE)
• Summary Chart: Federal and State Requirements for Competitive Foods in Private Schools and RCCIs (CSDE)
• Summary of Smart Snacks Standards for Competitive Foods in Schools (CSDE)

Competitive Foods

• Competitive  Foods in Schools (CSDE webpage)
• Connecticut Competitive Foods Regulations
  
  • CSDE Operational Memorandum No. 1-18: Accrual of Income from Sales of Competitive Foods in Schools
  • Overview of Connecticut's Competitive Foods Regulations (CSDE)
  • Sections 10-215b-1 and 10-215b-23 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (The Office of Secretary of the State)

Cafeteria A La Carte Sales

• Requirements for Cafeteria A La Carte Foods and Beverages in Non-HFC Public Schools (CSDE)
• Requirements for Cafeteria A La Carte Foods and Beverages in Private Schools and RCCIs (CSDE)

Culinary Programs

• Requirements for Foods and Beverages in Culinary Programs in Non-HFC Public Schools (CSDE)
• Requirements for Foods and Beverages in Culinary Programs in Private Schools and RCCIs (CSDE)
• USDA Memo SP 40-2014: Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards and Culinary Education Programs

Evaluating Compliance

• Beverage Requirements (CSDE webpage)
• List of Acceptable Foods and Beverages (CSDE webpage)
• Foods Made from Scratch: "How To" section of CSDE's Connecticut Nutrition Standards webpage
• Smart Snacks Product Calculator (Alliance for a Healthier Generation)
  Note: This calculator cannot be used to determine if foods comply with the Connecticut Nutrition Standards, which are stricter than Smart Snacks. In addition to complying with Smart Snacks, all Connecticut public school districts must comply with the state beverage requirements of C.G.S. Section 10-221q. Some stricter provisions of the state beverage statute supersede the Smart Snacks beverage standards. If a beverage meets the Smart Snacks nutrition standards, public schools must check to see that it also complies with C.G.S. Section 10-221q. Compliant beverages are listed on the CSDE's List of Acceptable Foods and Beverages webpage. 

Exemptions for Paired Exempt Foods

• Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards for Paired Exempt Foods (CSDE)
• USDA Memo SP 63-3014: Smart Snacks Standards for Exempt Foods when Paired Together

Fundraisers

• Best Practices for Healthy School Fundraisers (USDA)
• Healthy Fundraising (CSDE)
• Requirements for Food and Beverage Fundraisers in Non-HFC Public Schools (CSDE)
• Requirements for Food and Beverage Fundraisers in Private Schools and RCCIs (CSDE)
• Smart Snacks - Fundraisers and Foods Not Intended for Consumption at School (USDA webpage)
• State Agency Fundraiser Elections and Exemptions for Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards (CSDE)
• USDA Memo SP 36-2014: Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards and Exempt Fundraisers

Grain-only Entrees at Breakfast

• Requirements for Grain-only Entrees at Breakfast under the Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards (CSDE)
• USDA Memo SP 35-3014: Grain Entrees Related to Smart Snacks in Schools Standards

School Stores

• Requirements for Foods and Beverages in School Stores in Non-HFC Public Schools (CSDE)
• Requirements for Foods and Beverages in School Stores in Private Schools and RCCIs (CSDE)

Vending Machines

• Requirements for Foods and Beverages in Vending Machines in Non-HFC Public Schools (CSDE)
• Requirements for Foods and Beverages in Vending Machines in Private Schools and RCCIs (CSDE)