In an evaluation of the association between noontime beverage consumption and diet quality of school-aged children, among the sample of children aged 5 to 17 years, calcium RDAs were met only when milk was included at the noon meals. This is a clear example of how nutrition goals may be compromised when beverages, such as soft drinks, teas, and fruit drinks, are readily available to students at school. Competing and profit-making food and beverage sales may also create a conflicting environment in which the availability of these foods and beverages can contradict lessons taught in health and nutrition education. Additionally, competitive foods may divert income essential for the financial stability of the school meals program and the program's ability to invest funds into improving the cafeteria appearance in order to attract students into the program. The USDA defines competitive foods as any foods sold to children in foodservice areas during meals periods in competition with the federal meals programs.
Federal regulations prohibit the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value.
These regulations do not restrict the sale of these foods and beverages in other areas, nor do they restrict the sale of other foods or beverages anywhere on the school campus. State and local partners who administer the federal programs may impose additional restrictions on the sale of and income from all foods sold at any time throughout schools participating in the program. As a result, interpretations and enforcement vary throughout the country. School nutrition programs in many communities are expected to provide financially self-supporting nutrition programs for children with little or no local support. In almost one third of all middle and secondary schools, the school nutrition programs are expected to generate funds beyond the costs of the program.