Smarter Lunchrooms and Mealtimes Movement
Smarter Lunchrooms Movement
A smarter lunchroom is one that influences students toward choosing healthier, more nutritious foods. Smarter lunchrooms give students an opportunity to select and consume a balanced diet while providing them with a spectrum of choices. The SLM applies research-based principles that use low or no-cost solutions with a focus on the cafeteria environment and the promotion of healthful eating behaviors.
The mission of the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement of California (SLM of CA) is to provide training and technical advising for school food service in California on the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM) theory and practices created by the Cornell University.
Smarter Mealtimes is an adaptation of the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement for early care and education (ECE) environments. The Smarter Lunchrooms principles and concepts that result in increased selection and consumption of healthy food are also simple and effective in ECE settings.
- Skip to Smarter Mealtimes Content
SLM of California Technical Advising Professionals (TAP) Training
SLM of California Technical Advising Professionals (TAPs) support and advise schools and school districts in the SLM five-step process. To become a TAP, educators complete the following steps:
Step 1: Smarter Lunchrooms Movement 101 Webinar Series – Summer 2024
In this interactive webinar series, participants will receive an introduction to behavioral economics, the principles behind SLM and SMM, and the five-step process for implementing SLM and SMM. By attending this webinar series, participants will have completed the first step in becoming an SLM of CA Certified Technical Advising Professional.
Step 2: SLM of CA Technical Advising Professional Online Training Course
In this course, you will learn the basics of completing the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement of California (SLM of CA) five-step Technical Advising Professional (TAP) process.
Each of the modules takes between 5 and 15 minutes to complete and includes interactive activities and module quiz.
Step 3: SLM Guided Site Visit
A guided lunchroom observation with a certified TAP Master Trainer. The guided site visit is a key part of the process because it allows you to see the SLM process in action.
Please reach out to Anna Jones to be connected with a Guided Site Visit in your area.
Other SLM Training Opportunities
SLM/SMM Community of Practice Calls
The SLM/SMM Community of Practice (CoP) calls are an opportunity for SLM and SMM practitioners to get to together and discuss implementation, best practices, and ideas, while also brainstorming solutions to challenges.
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Spring 2025
SLM of California Recorded Webinars
These webinars cover a variety of topics, from engaging youth with SLM strategies to tray waste data collection.
Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Resources
SLM of CA Technical Advising Professionals Toolkit
- The TAP Toolkit was developed by experienced TAPs and provides guidance and tools for each step of the SLM of CA TAP Process.
- This handbook provides schools with the knowledge, motivation, and support needed to build a lunchroom environment that makes the healthy choice the easy choice for all students.
CFHL, UC Allowable Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Expenditures
- This guide assists counties in determining which SLM and SMM supplies are allowable or not allowable to purchase. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list. CalFresh Healthy Living, UC programs should consider supplies that are available in your county; working with local partners and vendors; and consider how to leverage resources of Non-SNAP-Ed funds or partners.
- If the item(s) you are planning to purchase are listed in the yellow column of the CFHL, UC SNAP-Ed Funded Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Expenditures, or are not listed in the above document at all, please complete this form and submit it to State Office to determine if your purchase is reasonable and allowable.
Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Evaluation
Smarter Lunchroom Movement Scorecard
- The Smarter Lunchrooms Scorecard contains 60 simple, no-cost or low-cost strategies that lunchrooms can use to increase participation, improve consumption of healthy food, and reduce food waste. The strategies are based on research from Cornell University and partners, and other behavioral science research.
SLM of CA Smarter Lunchrooms Scorecard Reporting Tool
- Please enter your scorecard data into this online Qualtrics tool.
Smarter Mealtimes Movement
Smarter Mealtimes Movement of CA Webpage
- Visit Smarter Mealtimes of CA for resources, posters, webinar recordings, and more.
- The Smarter Mealtimes Scorecard contains 20 simple, no-cost or low-cost strategies that ECE sites can use to improve consumption of healthy food and reduce food waste.
- This handbook is filled with tools and resources to help build an environment that makes the healthy choice the easy choice.
Smarter Mealtimes Scorecard Reporting Tool
- Please enter your Smarter Mealtimes scorecard data into this online Qualtrics tool.
Training
Introduction to Smarter Mealtimes Webinar
- Learn how to get started with Smarter Mealtimes with this informative webinar that covers how to use the scorecard, applying SMM strategies, and identifying partners.
Smarter Mealtimes Movement: An Early Start to Healthy Eating Webinar
- Hear from current Smarter Mealtimes implementers on how they put SMM strategies into action.