Smart Meal Guidelines
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Smart Meal™ Seal was created by the Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program to establish nutrition requirements specifically designed for eating establishments. The seal highlights those entrees that are lower in fat, calories, and sodium and include components such as beans, whole grains, fruits, or vegetables.
What are the guidelines for the Smart Meal™ Seal Program?*
- Two servings or more of beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. May substitute one serving for a serving of low-fat or fat-free milk or equivalent milk product (only one serving for a side dish)
- 700 or fewer calories (300 calories for a side dish)
- 30 percent or less of total calories from fat or 23 grams or less of total fat (10 grams for a side dish)
- 10 percent or less of calories from saturated fat or 8 grams or less of saturated fat (3 grams for a side dish)
- 0.5 grams or fewer of trans fat (no added or artificial trans fat)
- 1,350 mg or fewer of sodium (650 mg for a side dish)
- Participating restaurants are required to have at least two qualifying menu items
*Nutritional analysis is required. Suggested vendors are On The Menu, LLC (www.otmenu.com) and Strategic Nutrition, LLC (www.strategicnutrition.org).
Smart Meal Kids Guidelines
As childhood obesity continues to be a top-priority topic from the national level, many strategies are being introduced in the public and private sectors to address this issue. One recognized strategy to be deemed a promising practice is menu labeling and healthy-menu-option advertisement specifically for children. It is COPAN’s desire to extend the Smart Meal™ Seal program to child-appropriate meals: Smart Meal Kids.
The guidelines were developed using combined recommendations from the US Dietary Guidelines and the American Heart Association. The guidelines also follow recommendations of USDA’s National School Lunch Program. The Smart Meal Kids guidelines developed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are as follows:
- Two servings or more of beans, whole grains, fruits or vegetables. May substitute one serving for a serving of fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent milk product
- 400-600 calories *
- 30 percent or less of total calories from fat or 13-20 grams of total fat
- 10 percent or less of calories from saturated fat or 4-7 grams of saturated fat
- 0.5 grams or fewer of trans fat (no added or artificial trans fat)
- 600 - 800 mg or fewer of sodium*
* Calorie and sodium ranges are necessary to represent respective ages (4 - 8 and 9 – 13 years) in children. The meal would represent approximately 1/3 of daily recommendations.
One serving equals
- ½ cup cooked beans/legumes
- ½ cup cooked brown rice or whole grain pasta
- 1 slice whole grain bread
- 1 cup raw leafy greens
- ½ cup raw or cooked vegetables
- ½ cup cut up fruit
- 1 cup fat-free or low-fat milk
- 1 cup fat-free or low-fat soy milk
- 1 cup fat-free or low-fat yogurt
- 1 oz. fat-free or reduced fat cheese