Starting this school year, United States Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines will be expanded to all food and beverages sold in schools including vending machines, student stores and at fundraisers.

Vending machine and other snacks will have fat, sugar, salt, caffeine and calories limits.

Snacks must be at least 50 percent whole-grain or have fruit, vegetable, dairy or protein as the first ingredient.

“We are delighted with the changes coming this school year to make all foods in our schools healthier and consistent with nutrition education taught in our classrooms,” said Wendy Weyer, Director of Nutrition Services for Seattle Public Schools. “We know that access to healthy, nutritious food supports student learning and helps establish healthy habits for the rest of their lives.”

The changes were supported, in part, by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Community Transformation Grant within the Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund. The initiative is a collaborative effort between Seattle Children’s, Public Health—Seattle & King County (PHSKC) and the Healthy King County Coalition (HKCC).