Submit Your Comments to USDA Today!

For the first time in more than 30 years, the U.S Department of Agriculture is updating nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages sold in schools. This proposed rule complements USDA's standards for school meals, which took effect this school year.

We need your help to make sure USDA takes real action to improve the foods and beverages that students can buy every day.

These proposed guidelines could make a major difference to children's health. They would ensure that when kids make choices about snacks and drinks, the options they see are healthy ones, whether sold as a la carte items in the cafeteria, in vending machines, or in school stores. These items are a big part of what our young people eat—roughly 40 percent of students buy a snack at school every day.

Even if students eat a healthy lunch, research shows they often still consume excess calories from additional a la carte items the cafeteria might serve, such as french fries or ice cream. Sometimes kids skip a nutritious meal entirely in favor of less-healthy snacks.

Show your support for healthy snacks and drinks in schools.