Bag the Junk Launches National Healthy Schools Competition

The Smart Snacks Roundup

Posted By: Malkia “Kia” McLeod

What’s on the menu in public schools? A creative national schools competition that kicked off today seeks to answer how schools can “Bag the Junk.”

From 2009 to 2012, the percentage of elementary school students who could buy unhealthy snack foods at school dropped from 47 to 23 percent. High-school students’ access fell from 76 to 65 percent, while middle schools decreased from 63 to 54 percent of students able to purchase unhealthy snack foods at school.

Since the updated U.S. Department of Agriculture Smart Snacks standards went into effect on July 1, 2014, schools across the nation have been required to offer snacks with more fruit, vegetables and whole grains. And they are making significant progress. But there is still work to be done.

That’s why Bag the Junk is inviting ALL educators, food service and other education support professionals, students, parents, and school administrators to share their successes and challenges in providing healthier options in vending machines, cafeteria à la carte lines, school stores, and fundraisers. Bag the Junk’s National Schools Competition, “The Smart Snacks Roundup,” is designed to create an online forum where schools can share their “best practices” for implementing the new standards. And we want to hear from YOU!

The competition rules are simple.  Participants must submit a creative photo, video or narrative describing how their schools have implemented the Smart Snacks standards to www.bagthejunk.org by Friday, March 6, 2015. The Grand-Prize, second, third and 10 Honorable Mention winners will be notified by Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

Click here to enter. Also, let us know when you enter by tweeting #smartsnacksroundup to @BagtheJunk.

Good luck and Don’t forget to pass on this opportunity to colleagues and students!