A La Carte
Nutrition Standards
A la carte items, also known as “competitive foods”, have the potential to enhance your overall
foodservice operation. While the USDA is still preparing nutrition policies for
items sold outside of federal school meal programs, requiring that your a la
The items sold in
vending machines,
carte products meet minimum nutrition standards right now can reinforce
school stores, and
your school’s health and wellness goals and impact the overall health of
cafeteria a la carte
students.
lines are often called
“competitive foods”
Some states and individual school districts have established nutrient standards
because they
for their a la carte offerings that mirror the standards issued by the Healthy US
compete
with school
School Challenge (HUSSC) and the Institute of Medicine. Items on their a la carte
meals for students’
lines must have less than or equal to 35% of calories as fat, less than 10% of
spending.
calories as saturated fat, less than .5 grams of trans fat per serving, and equal to
or less than 35% sugar by weight. Á la carte entrée items must also additionally
be National School Lunch Program (NSLP) menu items and have a sodium content of 480 mg or less.
Non-entrée items must be less than 200 calories and contain 200 mg or less of sodium per serving.
Making it Successful
Many school districts have not seen revenue losses even when providing healthier a la carte foods and
eliminating less healthy ones. In fact, it has been shown that many schools may
Consider supplementing
be losing money from their food services departments when students buy
your a la carte offerings
snack foods instead of healthier breakfasts or lunches. School districts in states
with excess from the
with nutrition standards for snack and a la carte foods and beverages saw total
meal being served to
food- service revenues generally increase after the guidelines were put in place.
allow students to
This is largely because more children will purchase school meals if there are
purchase second helpings fewer items competing for their lunch money.
as needed. Also, utilize
To help ensure that the healthy a la carte selection is successful, some districts
taste tests to discover
have employed a competitive pricing strategy with the healthier items priced
students’ healthy
lower than the less healthy ones. Also, reducing or eliminating more of the less
favorites, or include side
healthy items will provide students with more healthy choices and limit their
dishes that have already
ability to purchase less healthy items. Placing healthier items at the beginning
proven themselves wellof the line, and less healthy ones near the end may also entice students to
liked.
purchase the healthier ones. In addition, schools have also enlisted the help of
students to promote healthier products more effectively.
When determining if new items qualify for your a la carte program, utilize the formulas on the
following page.
Formulas for Calculations
Total Fat (Percent of Calories from Fat)
Total grams of fat in the food:____ Multiply times 9 = ____ (calories from fat)
Total calories in the food (from label): ____
Divide calories from fat by total ca lories = ____
To convert to a %, move the decimal point two places to the right, or multiply by 100
HUSSC total fat criteria: must be at or below 35% of calories per serving.
Saturated Fat (Percent of Calories from Saturated Fat)
Total grams of saturated fat in the food: ____ Multiply times 9 = ____ (calories from saturated fat)
Total calories in the food (from label): ____
Divide calories from saturated fat by total calories = ____
To convert to a %, move the decimal point two places to the right, or multiply by 100
HUSSC saturated fat criteria: must be below 10% of calories.
Trans Fat
Amount of trans fat in a serving of the food (Nutrition Facts label): ____ gm.
HUSSC trans fat criteria: must be less than 0.5 gm per serving.
Sugar (Percent of Sugar by Weight)
Total grams of sugar in the food (A): ____
Gram weight of the food (B): _____
Divide A by B = ____
To convert to a %, move the decimal point two places to the right, or multiply by 100
HUSSC sugar criteria: must be at or below 35% by weight.
Sodium
If the serving size is the same as what is listed on the food label:
Milligrams (mg) of sodium in one serving (Nutrition Facts label): ____ mg (A)
If using a serving size greater or less than what is listed on the Nutrition Facts label:
Multiply the mg of sodium in one serving (A) by the amount (factor) of increase or
decrease (2 times, ½, etc.) to determine the mg of sodium in the new serving size
_____ mg.
Compare results with sodium criteria below:
Side dish/non-entrée Total milligrams (mg) of sodium in the food: ____
Does this meet the Bronze/Silver/Gold award level (at or below 480 mg)? ____
Does this meet the Gold with Distinction level (at or below 200 mg)? ____
Main dish/entree Total milligrams (mg) of sodium in the food: ____
Does this meet the Bronze/Silver/Gold award level (at or below 600 mg)? ____
Does this meet the Gold with Distinction level (at or below 480)? ____
If a simple factor is not easy to determine:
Divide the gm weight of the adjusted serving size to be served/consumed _____ gm (B) by the gm
weight of one serving _____ gm (C) to determine the adjustment factor____ (D).
Multiply the mg of sodium in one serving (A) times the adjustment factor (D) ____ to determine the
mg of sodium in the adjusted serving size_____ mg.
Grains, Nuts, and Seeds
•
•
Animal Crackers
Bagels
•
•
•
•
•
Baked/Popped Chips
Cereal or Granola Bars
Cheese and Crackers
Chex mix
Grilled or baked cheese and veggie
quesadilla
Lite Popcorn/Kettle Corn
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Muffins
Pop Tarts
Pretzels, sticks or soft
Sandwiches
o PB&J
o Fresh deli sandwiches and subs
o Wraps
Soft Pretzel
Trail Mix
Fruits
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
100% applesauce/fruit blend cups, no sugar added
Frozen 100% fruit or fruit juice bar or cup, no sugar added
Fruit and low-fat yogurt parfaits
Fruit salad
100% juice
Packaged dry fruit
Seasonal fresh fruit, whole or sliced
Dairy Products/
Alternatives
•
•
•
•
•
•
Low-fat cheese and bean
burrito
Low-fat cottage cheese
Low-fat flavored yogurt
Milk, Low-fat and fat-free
Part-skim string cheese
Soy milk
Vegetables
•
•
•
•
•
Chef Salad Shaker
•
•
Baked beans
Baked potato
Raw veggies with low-fat dressing, yogurt, or hummus dip
o Baby carrots, jicama or celery sticks, cucumber slices,
red or green pepper strips
Salad Shakers*
o Greek, Chicken Caesar, Caesar, Oriental Chicken,
Southwest Chicken
Salad-to-Go *
o Chef, Spinach, Chicken Taco, Chicken Topper, Tuna
Topper, Turkey
Sweet Potato Fries with Chipotle Cinnamon Seasoning
Vegetable Soup
*From USDA’s Fruits and Veggies Galore (http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/resources/tricks_trade.pdf)
CWD Products: Use this list of Cash-Wa products to help stock a healthy a la carte line that meets
your nutrition standards. As always, check with your Cash-Wa representative for additional products
and seasonal items!
CWD
#
% Calories
from
Description
% Calories
from
Saturated
Fat
% Calories
from
% Weight
from
Trans Fat
Sugar
0
0
0
21 g
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12 g
13 g
19 g
5g
4g
5g
10 g
5g
5g
30 g
29 g
35 g
49 g
5
5
10
470
410
290
1070
95
450
10
10
10
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
19.4
12 g
11 g
19.4
19.4
13 g
18 g
10
20
15
10
10
15
15
6.7
6.9
7.2
5
5.1
5.4
0
0
0
48 g
43 g
45 g
130
130
130
Fat
mg
Sodium
Fruits
Juice
44787 Juice Very Berry 100% Aseptic
44788
44791
44810
44830
44835
44850
44852
44853
45060
45835
45836
45837
45838
Juice Mixed Berry Fruitables
Aseptic
Juice Straw Kiwi Fruitables Aseptic
Orange Juice Ind Can
Tomato Juice Campbell's
Tomato Juice Sacramento
V8 Vegetable Juice
Spicy Hot V8 Vegetable Juice
V8 Juice Low Sodium
V8 Vegetable Juice
Orange Juice 10 oz
Grapefruit Juice - 10 oz
Apple Juice 10 oz
Grape Juice - 10 oz
Frozen
58077
58087
58088
58095
58099
58105
58176
Shape Ups (Orange) 2.25 oz
Juice Orange Pineapple 100% Cup
Juice Orange 100% Cup
Shape Ups (Cherry) 2.25 oz
Shape Ups (Strawberry) 2.25 oz
Juice Apple 100% Cup
Juice Grape 100% Cup
Smoothies
45873 Main Street Smoothie Strawberry
45874 Main Street Smoothie Mixed Berry
45875 Main Street Smoothie Peach
0
0
0
0
Grains, Nuts, and Seeds
Bagels
55048 Bagel White Whl Grain IW
55743 Pretzel Baked 2.5 oz
58696 Bagel Cinnamon Raisin
7.5
5
2.6
0
0
0
0
0
0
5.3
1.4
11.9
170
150
340
58803 Bagel Mini Sliced
4.5
0
0
10.8
140
30
26.3
0
6.4
0
6.4
3.8
3.8
3.8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
14.3
11
7.1
7.1
10.7
10.7
3.6
60
200
135
200
210
210
230
34.6
6.9
0
<3.6
150
37.5
7.5
6.4
0
0
<3.6
7.1
360
140
0
0
0
4.1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
32.1
<5
32.1
32.1
11.8
23.8
160
110
220
200
100
110
4.1
3.8
0
0
3.2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
21.4
32.1
<5
11.1
5.1
<6
31.6
25
9.5
11.1
200
130
90
130
220
95
105
160
150
100
Baked Chips
25339
Chips Rachel's Carmel Whole Grain
25583
26204
26205
26207
26209
26217
Sun chip Harvest Cheddar
Baked Lays Original
Sun chip Harvest Cheddar
Baked Lays BBQ Chip
Baked Lays Sour Cream & Onion
Baked Doritos Nacho Cheese
Baked Cheetos Crunchy Cheese
26218 Snacks
Baked Cheetos Flaming Hot Cheese
26219 Snacks
26222 Sun chips Garden Salsa
Cereal
42381
42382
42384
42385
42386
42395
42396
42401
42402
42403
42404
42421
42443
42444
42449
42451
Cereal Bowl Honey Nut Cheerios
Cereal Bowl Cheerios
Cereal Bowl Golden Grahams
Cereal Bowl Cinn Toast Crunch
Cereal Bowl Kix
Cereal Bowl Trix Less Sugar
Cereal Bowl Cinn Toast Crunch Less
Sugar
Cereal Bowl Cinnamon Toasters
Cereal Bowl Toasty O's
Cereal Bowl Special K
Cereal Cup Cheerios
Cereal Ind Cheerios
Cereal Bowl Fruit Loops Less Sugar
Cereal Frosted Flakes Less Sugar
Cereal Bowl Corn Flakes
Cereal Bowl Rice Krispies
42.9
16.7
38.6
22.5
22.5
38.6
12.3
12.9
8.1
24.5
7.5
11.3
24.5
26.3
16.9
0
16.1
15
12.9
0
0
0
42453 Cereal Bowl Raisin Bran
42464 Cereal Ind Box Rice Krispies
42466 Cereal Ind Box Special K
4.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
28.6
12
13
125
140
160
0
0
21.4
32.1
0
160
Cereal Bowl Bite Size Frosted Mini
42473 Wheats
42491 Cereal Honey Nut Cheerios Ind
12.3
0
0
Cereal Bowl Little Bites Chocolate
42552 Frosted Mini Wheats
42564 Cereal Ind Granola
9
23.3
0
0.03
0
0
21.4
22.9
105
75
16.7
16.7
28.4
33.2
10
10
2.4
4.7
0
0
0
0
27.3
34.8
28.6
26.2
95
85
160
180
25.7
17.6
16.9
17.6
18.8
3.2
5.9
5.6
5.9
1.9
0
0
0
0
0
34.3
33.8
36.8
33.8
32.4
65
150
160
160
190
25.7
12.9
0
25
90
24
24.2
6
3.5
0
0
32.1
32.4
135
110
22.5
32.1
3.8
3.2
0
0
32.4
17.1
110
95
32.1
22.5
22.5
22.5
19.3
0
3.8
3.8
2.8
3.2
0
0
0
0
0
14.3
32.4
29.7
31.8
24.3
105
110
125
150
135
19.3
3.2
0
24.3
125
30
22.5
22.5
9
6.4
3.2
0
0
0
22.9
14.3
14.3
95
260
200
Cereal/Granola Bars
25809 Cereal Bar Special K Choc Drizzle
25820 Cereal Bar Special K Strawberry
25867 Nature Valley Bar Oats & Honey
25869 Nature Valley Bar Peanut Butter
Nature Valley Trail Mix Bar Fruit &
25894 Nut
26004 Cliff Bar Chocolate Chip Energy
26021 Cliff Bar Carrot Cake Energy
26027 Cliff Bar Chocolate Brownie
26077 Cliff Bar Blueberry Crisp
Fiber One Chewy Oats & Chocolate
26159 Bar
Cocoa Krispies Chewy Cereal Bar
26539 Chocolate
28013 Nutri-Grain Yogurt Bar Strawberry
Nutri-Grain Bar Apple Cinnamon
28020 1.3 oz
28023 Granola Bar Kashi Trail Mix
Granola Bar Kashi Chewy Honey
28024 Almond Flax
28025 Nutri-Grain Bar Blueberry
28030 Nutri-Grain Bar Strawberry 1.3 oz
28053 Nutri-Grain Bar Strawberry 1.55 oz
28175 Cereal Bar Golden Graham
Cereal Bar Apple Cinnamon
28176 Cheerios
Chex Mix
25895 Chex Mix Trail Mix
25967 Simply Chex Cheddar Snack
26605 Simply Chex BBQ Snack
0
Crackers
43031 Individual Graham Crackers- Honey
43032 Individual Graham Crackers- WGR
43136 Graham Crackers- Cinnamon Bun
43137 Graham Crackers-French Toast
43151 Ind Bug Bite Grahams Crackers
43153 Graham Cracker Grips Cinnamon
43154 Cheez-It Scrabble Crackers
Muffins
58686 Banana Nut Mini Muffin
58689 Blueberry Mini Muffin
Pop Tarts
28074 Pop Tart Brown Sugar Cinn WGR
28079 Pop Tart Strawberry WGR
736736 Pop Tart Frosted Blueberry
736738 Pot Tart Frosted Brown Sugar Cinn
736740 Pop Tart Frosted Cherry
736744 Pop Tart Frosted S'mores
736750 Pop Tart Frosted Strawberry
Pretzels
55743 Pretzel Baked 2.5 oz
25
30
27.3
30
29.2
27
31.5
28
31
14
14
22.5
30
22.5
22.5
22.5
5
0
5
8.2
8.6
7.5
9
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
21.4
19
24
24
28.6
11
0
60
100
230
230
115
80
130
5
6
0
0
33
27
150
140
5
6.8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
30
30
30.8
30
30.8
36.5
30.8
190
180
170
170
160
210
170
0
0
1.4
150
5
6.8
8.6
6.8
6.8
Dairy
Yogurt
66395 Yogurt Trix Strawberry Banana Bash
4.5
4.5
0
12.4
50
Yogurt Red Raspberry/Harvest
66398 Peach
8.2
4.1
0
15
60
Yogurt Yoplait
66408 Strawberry/Strawberry Banana
8.2
4.1
0
15.5
60
Soy Milk
41454 Milk Soy Vanilla Organic Pearl
29.6
4.8
0
16.9 g
183