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Resource | Toolkits Tools for Schools

Tools for Schools offers topic-specific policy and resource materials to assist schools in meeting the new nutrition standards. Refer to the latest regulations, find free nutrition education curricula, or get ideas for adding tasty, kid-friendly foods to enhance your school meals program.

05/16/2023
Resource | Webinars/Videos Seeding Success: Farm to School Grant Requirements

This pre-recorded webinar features USDA Farm to School Program staff, who summarize grantee reporting requirements and review the processes for submitting no-cost extensions, as well as project and budget amendments.

03/21/2022
Resource | Webinars/Videos Everything You Need to Know about GS1 GDSN! Accessing Nutrient, Allergen and Ingredient Information for USDA Foods in Schools

This webinar is intended for states and school districts that serve direct delivered USDA Foods for child nutrition programs.

08/05/2021
Resource | Research | Assessing/Improving Operations Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review

The Farm to School Census and Comprehensive Review includes the 2019 Farm to School Census; a descriptive review of the USDA Farm to School grant program; a review of published research on farm to school since 2010; and a set of interviews with school food distributors. 

07/15/2021
Resource | Toolkits Tools for Schools: Serving Whole Grain-Rich

School meals are giving kids the goodness of whole grains. Whole grains give kids B vitamins, minerals, and fiber to help them feel full longer so they stay alert to concentrate at school. Beginning SY 2019-2020, half of the weekly grains offered must be whole grain-rich and the remaining grain items must be enriched.

01/03/2020
Resource | Nutrition Education Grow It, Try It, Like It! Fun with Fruits and Vegetables at Family Child Care

This resource is designed to help Child and Adult Care Food Program operators provide garden-based nutrition education for children ages 3 through 5 years in family child care settings.

FNS-642
06/21/2019
Resource | Toolkits Tools for Schools: Reducing Sodium

Schools are an important player in overall national efforts to reduce the amount of salt that people eat. As such, schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs will continue to reduce the amount of salt in meals by choosing lower sodium versions of foods and flavoring foods with spices and herbs. See the resources below for information about sodium limits in school meals and guidance on selecting and preparing foods with less sodium.

03/20/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2014-0012 Q&As Related to the “Smart Snacks” Interim Final Rule

This is the third in a series of Questions and Answers related to the interim final rule titled, National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program: Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

SP23-2014v3
03/31/2015
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2014-0053 Transition of Foods and Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value to Smart Snacks in School Standards

This memorandum is to inform you that all foods of minimal nutritional value exemptions will end on June 30, 2014. Therefore, the attached list, Exemptions Under the Competitive Foods Regulation will become obsolete on July 1, 2014. Beginning July, 1, 2014, the interim final rule for Smart Snacks in School will go into effect for school year 2014-15. Therefore, any competitive foods and beverages must meet the nutrition standards specified in the interim final rule.

SP53-2014
06/30/2014
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2014-0033 Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards and Culinary Education Programs

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance regarding the treatment of culinary education programs that operate in schools participating in the federal school meal programs.

SP40-2014
04/22/2014
Page updated: October 14, 2021