Data Snapshot – Nutrition

  • Only four of Colorado’s 23 largest school districts surveyed by the Colorado Children’s Campaign require that all snacks meet nutritional standards in all schools. Source
    • Six require that all snacks meet nutritional standards in elementary schools.
    • Eight require that at least 50 percent of snacks in all schools meet nutritional standards.
    • Two have no nutritional standards or guidelines for snacks.
  • Approximately one out of 10 Colorado high school students is overweight. Source
  • Approximately 2.5 out of 10 Colorado high school students ate five or more servings of fruits and vegetables during the past seven days. Source
  • Slightly more than half of all states, including Colorado, neither requires nor recommends that schools make fruits and vegetables available to students. Source
  • Colorado neither requires nor recommends that schools prohibit junk foods in six out of eight school settings, including vending machines, after-school programs, or school stores and snack bars. Source
  • Among Colorado voters, 94 percent support an effort to increase nutritional standards for school lunches, reducing high-fat and high-calorie foods in favor of more fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and other healthy choices. Source
  • Colorado is one of 16 states that do not require schools to offer breakfast or lunch to students. Source
    Research shows students who regularly attend school breakfast programs perform better, and have fewer psychosocial symptoms, less hyperactivity and better daily attendance.
  • Only 39 percent of Colorado’s children who qualify for a low-cost or no-cost school meal eat both a school breakfast and lunch. Source
  • Colorado is one of 36 states that do not offer certification, licensure or endorsement for district food service directors and school food service managers. Source