Rio Rancho Public Schools’ new nutrition policy brings the district into compliance with new federal and state regulations on what kinds of foods and beverages may be sold to students outside the school lunch program. The nutrition policy and guidelines apply not only to school employees, but also to PTA’s, student groups, booster clubs, and anyone else selling food or beverages to students during school hours or in connection with a school sponsored activity.

Click here to download the RRPS Nutrition Plan.

The regulations define which foods can be sold to students based on the time of day (morning, during lunch, after lunch, or outside school hours) and the grade level of the students. The requirements are most restrictive at the elementary level and become less restrictive as students become older and are able to make better informed choices about food and beverages.

The RRPS nutrition guidelines are the same as the state requirements except that milk at all grade levels is limited to a maximum of 1% (rather than 2%) milkfat.

The new RRPS nutrition policy bans carbonated sodas altogether during the school day at the elementary and middle school level. At the Mid-High and high school level, sale of carbonated beverages is permitted only through vending machines and only after the conclusion of the last lunch period of the day (about an hour and a half before school lets out), and is limited to beverages that are both sugar-free and caffeine-free.

Outside of school hours, the regulations at all grade levels simply say that 50% of the items offered for sale must meet the new nutritional guidelines. For example, at sports venue concession stands, 50% of the items offered for sale would need to meet the guidelines and the other 50% do not have to.

All school districts in the state are required to adopt new nutrition guidelines which at a minimum align with the state regulations by August 30.