Competitive Foods & Fundraisers
Competitive Foods
Competitive foods are any foods or beverages sold to students during the school day that compete with federally reimbursable meal programs. This includes items sold through vending machines, snack bars, or school fundraisers. All direct and indirect transactions—such as cash, credit, tokens, tickets, or donations—are considered sales.
Fundraisers & Exempt Days
Fundraisers that include food and beverage items that do not meet the Competitive Food Nutrition Standards, and are intended to be consumed at school, must be sold outside the school day or on exempt days only. The school day begins at midnight and ends 30 minutes after the official school day ends.
📌 Exempt days are set by local policies in the district's Wellness Plan.
Exceptions to the Competitive Food and Beverage Nutrition Standards
- Accommodating students with special needs.
- Competition locations and other events are exempt if a National School Lunch/Breakfast program meal is not provided as part of the event.
- Food and/or beverages brought from home or food is given to students.
- Food and/or beverages that parents provide for their own children's lunches or snacks.
- Food and/or beverages that are given to students at no charge. This includes, but is not limited to, food and/or beverages provided for birthday parties or special events.
- Fundraising activities that include the ordering and distribution of food and/or beverages not intended to be consumed during the school day on the school campus. This includes ordering foot items that will be picked up at a later time in the future. Typically, these food items need further preparation before they can be served (e.g., cookie dough, frozen sausage).
- Food and/or beverages used as rewards for good behavior or grades are not considered a sale to the student.
Smart Snacks In Schools
All foods sold at school during the school day are required to meet nutrition standards. The Smart Snacks in School regulation applies to foods sold a la carte, in the school store, vending machines, and any other venues where food is sold to students.
A number of tools and resources are available to help schools identify food items that meet Smart Snacks criteria. See the resources below for information about the Smart Snacks requirement, helpful tools, and ways to encourage children to make healthier snack choices that give them the nutrition they need to grow and learn.
Resource Materials
- A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools
- Fundraisers and Smart Snacks: Foods Not Intended for Consumption at School
- Smart Snacks Calculator (Alliance for a Healthier Generation)
- Infographic
Policy Guidance
- Rules
- Policy memos
- Competitive Foods and Beverages in U.S. Schools: A State Policy Analysis (HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)