USDA Standards

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained:

Online
Any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992
Writing a letter addressed to USDA

The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by mail, email, or fax.

Contact USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442

Email: program.intake@usda.gov

Children gather around a CUSD Nutrition food truck with a building in the background under a clear blue sky.

USDA Standards for Healthy Eating

Arizona Healthy Schools Act

The Basics of the Arizona Healthy Schools Act - Arizona Department of Education

Arizona Healthy Schools Act or House Bill 2164, prohibits public schools participating in federally funded meal programs from serving or selling ultra-processed foods containing certain additives and dyes during the school day.

The bill defines ultra-processed foods as those containing ingredients such as:

Potassium Bromate
Propylparaben
Brominated vegetable oil
Titanium Dioxide
Artificial food dyes (Yellow 5 & 6, Blue 1 & 2, Green 3, and Red 3 & 40)

The bill will take effect at the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

Build Your Tray

All students eating school lunches are encouraged to Build Your Tray The Healthy Way by taking at least 3 of the food items offered on the lunch menu.

One of these items must be a fruit or vegetable. All CUSD breakfasts and lunches contain the 5 components of a meal: Grain, milk, protein, fruit and vegetable. Students must take 3 components to complete a full meal. Encourage your student to take all 5 components since the cost is the same whether they eat all 5 items or 3! USDA regulations require that a fruit or vegetable be on every tray. This requirement is based on the USDA's Choose My Plate nutrition education promotion. This requirement states that a plate must contain half a plate of fruit and vegetables, a quarter plate of grains and a quarter plate of protein, and a low fat dairy option.

Infographic titled “Build Your Own Breakfast” for a reimbursable OVS (Offer Versus Serve) breakfast. The graphic explains that students must select at least a half-cup serving of fruits or vegetables plus two full servings from food groups including grains, milk, protein, fruits, or vegetables in any combination. The image shows illustrated examples of foods such as apples, bananas, carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, bagels, bread, muffins, yogurt, eggs, and milk. A highlighted section states: “It’s easy! Choose at least 1 fruit or veggie plus 2 additional food items to make a meal.” A tray graphic displays labeled food groups: vegetables, fruits, milk, grains, and protein (meat or vegetarian options). A note at the bottom states that additional food items will be charged at à la carte prices. The graphic includes Aramark Student Nutrition branding.

Infographic titled “Build Your Own Lunch” for a reimbursable OVS (Offer Versus Serve) lunch. The graphic explains that students must select at least three food components, including a half-cup serving of fruits or vegetables plus two additional servings from food groups such as grains, milk, protein, fruits, or vegetables in any combination. The image includes illustrations of foods such as apples, bananas, carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, bread, muffins, bagels, chicken, and milk. A highlighted sec

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program

Five of our elementary schools were awarded the grant program for the 2025-26 school year. This program promotes the introduction of a large variety of fresh fruit and vegetables through taste testing, touch, smell and knowledge of the food through educational materials in the classroom two times per week. The CUSD Food & Nutrition Department has partnered with a local produce supplier to bring fun, seasonal and often exotic items to the students in hopes of inspiring them to try new, healthy, and nutritious fruits and vegetables. Some example produce include kumquats, mini heirloom tomatoes, and dragon fruit.

All students are encouraged to participate! Congratulations to the schools awarded the grant for 2025-26! A big thanks to the school administrators, staff, and teachers for helping to make this program possible this year.

Conley Elementary
Frye Elementary
Galveston Elementary
Hartford Elementary
San Marcos Elementary

FFVP Fact Sheet - English

FFVP Fact Sheet - Spanish

Smart Snacks in Schools

Items Sold A La Carte

USDA Smart Snack compliant beverages and snacks are sold a la carte during meal periods; pricing varies depending on the item. If you would prefer to limit your students' purchases, you can contact your kitchen manager directly. They can put an alert on your students' accounts with a daily limit of your choosing. Contact your kitchen manager (Link to site managers page) directly for available products and pricing.

Since July 1, 2014, the US Department of Agriculture’s Smart Snacks in School rules have required all foods and beverages sold separate from school meals to meet new nutrition standards. Often referred to as “competitive foods,” because they are sold in competition to the complete reimbursable school meal, these items include entrees, sides, snacks or drinks sold during the school day in vending machines, snack bars and a la carte lines. The rules do not apply to food and beverages brought from home or sold during non-school hours, weekends or at off-campus events (e.g. concessions during sporting events and school plays).

Under Smart Snacks in Schools, competitive foods must:

Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or
Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or
Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or
Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber)

Fundraisers: States may establish exemptions for items sold at infrequent fundraisers or bake sales.

Local Flexibility: States and/or local schools have the flexibility to maintain or establish their own more stringent standards for competitive foods, if they meet the minimum federal standards.

Food items must meet the following criteria:

Nutritional Information

Calorie Limits

Snack items: ≤ 200 calories

Entrée items: ≤ 350 calories

Sodium Limits

Snack items: ≤ 200 mg

Entrée items: ≤ 480 mg

Fat Limits

Total fat: ≤ 35% of calories

Saturated fat: < 10% of calories

Trans fat: zero grams

Sugar Limits

≤ 35% of weight from total sugars in foods

Beverage Regulation

All schools may sell:

Plain water (with or without carbonation), no portion limit
Unflavored or flavored fat-free or low-fat milk and milk alternatives (e.g. soy milk, lactose-free milk)*
100% fruit or vegetable juice and
100% fruit or vegetable juice diluted with water (with or without carbonation), and no added sweeteners

Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions, middle/high schools up to 12-ounces of milk and juice.

High schools may sell additional “no calorie” and “lower calorie” beverage options, including caffeinated beverages. Offerings may include no more than 20-ounce portions of calorie-free, flavored water (with or without carbonation) and other flavored and/or carbonated beverages that contain < 5 calories per 8 fluid ounces or ≤ 10 calories per 20 fluid ounces. High schools may also offer no more than 12-ounce portions of beverages with ≤ 40 calories per 8 ounces, or ≤ 60 calories per 12 ounces.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.