Smart Ways to Implement Smart Snacks 

• Variety is the spice of life:  students respond well when they are allowed to make a choice. Be sure to provide an array of options for your students to choose from - that way you will be catering to different tastes and empowering your students to make a healthy choice.
• Test it out:  organize taste-tests with your students to determine which foods they prefer versus those they don't like so much. This will help prevent food waste in the future as well as increase sales because we all know students are more likely to purchase and consume food they like!
• Education is key:  getting your students to understand why healthier foods have replaced junk food and how it benefits them can defuse some of the frustration your students may be feeling. Informative signs and eye-catching posters throughout the cafeteria are one easy way to spread the word, but getting the school community involved in nutrition education is even better!
• Empower your students:  student leaders are known for having an impact on their  peers. Enroll your school's student leaders' help in setting a good example by getting student council or class presidents involved in your cause.
• Make it an event:  promote your nutrition program through events like "Bring your parent to lunch day" or having students' favorite teachers eat with them in the cafeteria. You'll be rallying support for your program from the community and setting a good example for students at the same time!
• Promote your program:  they say marketing drives consumption and that rule doesn't stop at your cafeteria door. Promote healthy products using posters, bulletin boards featuring daily offerings, or on the school's morning announcements.
• Be social:  there's no need to go where no nutritional professional has gone before - instead, go where your students go. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites are an easy way to market your nutrition program and provide a little nutrition education along the way. 
• Knowledge is power:  if your students have never seen or tried a certain food before, they may be afraid or just not sure how to eat it. Teaching students what those green things in their food are called or how to eat a kiwi can make a big difference in their willingness to try it.

For more inspiration, be sure to watch "Strategies for Implementing Smart Snacks in School: Learning from 8 Districts' Successes in Controlling Junk Food and Maintaining Revenue" - a webinar hosted by the Illinois Public Health Institute. You can view the full webinar on their website to hear tips and tricks from schools across the country who have successfully implemented smart snacks.

Not sure what to serve? Check out the following resources to help you find products that meet the Smart Snacks in School guidelines:

• Product Calculator from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation:  Simply enter the product information, answer a few questions, and determine whether your beverage, snack, side or entr�e item meets the new USDA Smart Snacks in School Guidelines.
• Product Navigator from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation:  Browse the online catalog featuring food and beverage products that meet national nutrition standards from participating companies working with the Alliance.
• Specification Templates in BidAdvantage for Schools:  Customizable specification descriptions that meet the Smart Snacks in School standards - all written by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Log in to BidAdvantage to check them out, or contact us to get started. 

Be sure to share your tips & tricks with everyone: