California Nutrition Standards for ASP

Summary

ASP that provide snacks through:

• The federal Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) programs must follow the federal meal patterns on the ASP web page.
  
  
• After School Education and Safety (ASES) or the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) programs must follow the California Nutrition Standards. These ASPs should also seek to qualify for the CNPs.
  

When serving meals, both the CNPs and the ASES or 21st CCLC programs must meet the federal meal pattern and the California Nutrition Standards.

California Nutrition Standards

California Education Code Requirements

California Education Code sections 49430-49431.7, 8423(c)3, 8482.2(d)(1), and 8482.2(d)(2) provide the California Nutrition Standards requirements for ASP funded by ASES and 21st CCLC.

Food

Snacks provided in ASES and 21st CCLC funded ASPs must be fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein or whole grain-rich food items; foods with a fruit, vegetable, dairy, protein, or whole grain-rich item as the first ingredient; or combination foods containing at least one-quarter cup of fruit or vegetable that meet all of the following standards. Each individual food item must:

• Not be deep fried, par fried, or flash fried by the entity preparing the food item
  
  
• Not be deep fried, par fried, flash fried as part of the manufacturing process unless an acceptable oil is used such as canola, safflower, sunflower, corn, olive, soybean, peanut, or a blend of these oils, typically liquid at room temperature and are known for their positive cardiovascular benefit
  
  
• Contain less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving
  
  
• Contain less than or equal to 35 percent of its total calories from fat (This does not apply to individually packaged portions of nuts, nut butters, seeds, seed butters, reduced-fat cheese or part skim mozzarella cheese.)
  
  
• Contain less than 10 percent of its total calories from saturated fat (This does not apply to individually packaged portions of reduced-fat cheese or part skim mozzarella cheese, nuts, nut butters, seeds, seed butters, or a dried fruit and nut and seed combination.)
  
  
• Contain less than or equal to 35 percent of its total weight from sugar, including naturally occurring and added sugar (This does not apply to fruits, vegetables that have not been deep fried, or a dried fruit and nut and seed combination.)
  
  
• Contain no more than 200 milligrams of sodium per item
  
  
• Contain no more than 200 calories per individual food item

Beverages

Only the following beverages may be served to students:

• Fruit-based drinks that are composed of no less than 50 percent fruit juice and have no added sweetener in a maximum serving size of 8 fluid ounces for elementary school or 12 fluid ounces for middle school and high school
  
  
• Vegetable-based drinks that are composed of no less than 50 percent vegetable juice and have no added sweetener in a maximum serving size of 8 fluid ounces for elementary school or 12 fluid ounces for middle school and high school
  
  
• Plain water or plain carbonated water
  
  
• One-percent-fat unflavored milk, nonfat flavored or unflavored milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, and other similar nondairy milk in a maximum serving size of 8 fluid ounces for elementary school or 12 fluid ounces for middle school and high school
  
  
• Nondairy beverages offered as fluid milk substitutes, such as plant-based milk alternatives, may be offered in the CNPs. If provided to children for nondisability reasons, the plant-based milk alternatives must be nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk and provide the required nutrients identified on the Nutrient Standards tab of the Milk Requirements in the Child Nutrition Programs web page.
  
  
• A beverage shall not contain caffeine with the exception of trace amounts of naturally occurring caffeine substances
  
  
• Beverages labeled or commonly referred to as sodas, colas, or soft drinks are not allowed

High School Only

Flavored water or flavored carbonated water with no added sweetener that is labeled to contain less than 5 calories per 8 fluid ounces in a maximum serving size of 20 fluid ounces

• Flavored water or flavored carbonated water with no added sweetener that is labeled to contain no more than 40 calories per 8 fluid ounces in a maximum serving size of 12 fluid ounces
  
  
• Electrolyte replacement beverage that contains less than 5 calories per 8 fluid ounces in a maximum serving size of 20 fluid ounces
  
  
• Electrolyte replacement beverage that contains no more than 40 calories per 8 fluid ounces in a maximum serving size of 12 fluid ounces
  

Definitions

Added Sweetener—Any additive other than 100 percent fruit juice that enhances the sweetness of a beverage.

Deep fried—A food item is cooked by total submersion in oil or fat.

Par fried—A food item is fried to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit then is cooled to room temperature so that it may be refrigerated or frozen for future frying.

Flash fried—A food item is quickly fried on both sides in oil with a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Whole Grain-rich—A food item that contains 50 percent or more whole grains by weight or has a whole grain as the first ingredient.

Federal Meal Patterns for the CNPs

For the federal meal patterns for ASP, visit the California Department of Education (CDE) ASP web page.

Summary Tables

The summary tables assist program operators of the ASP in following the correct meal pattern for the funding they are receiving.

CDE Administered ASPs

Non-CDE Administered ASPs

Contacts

California Department of Education

NSLP Afterschool Snacks

For questions and to apply for the NSLP Afterschool Snacks, contact your SNP by email at SNPInfo@cde.ca.gov.

Summer Food Service Program

For questions and to apply for the SFSP, contact the SFSP team by email at SFSP@cde.ca.gov.

California Department of Social Services

Child and Adult Food Care Program

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) administers the Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP) At-risk Afterschool Meals Program and CACFP Outside-School-Hours Care. The CACFP programs can complement meal service in childcare and afterschool settings. For more information, visit the CDSS CACFP web page or email CACFPInfo@dss.ca.gov.