Smarter Lunchrooms Movement
A smarter lunchroom is one that influences students toward choosing healthier, more nutritious foods. The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM) uses strategies based in behavioral economics to encourage students to select and eat healthy foods in the school cafeteria. 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.
Examples of successful Smarter Lunchrooms strategies include: offering vegetables first in the lunch line, which can result in students taking and eating more veggies by as much as 30% (Appetite. 2016 Jan 1;96:111-115); involving students in the design of vegetable promotional materials that are displayed in the lunchroom, which can double vegetable consumption in elementary school (Prev Med Rep. 2017 Mar 23;6:246-250); and slicing oranges rather serving them whole, which can double the amount of students selecting and consuming oranges (Appetite. 2009 Oct 1;53(2):264-7).
Smarter Mealtimes
Smarter Mealtimes is an adaptation of the SLM 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.
The SLM and Smarter Mealtimes Movement were developed by Cornell University. The information is used courtesy of the SLM National Office and Cornell University.
The resources on this webpage were developed to help school nutrition services and school and community partners to implement evidence-based strategies in school lunchrooms to make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Resources
Browse these resources to learn more about the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement.
- Training
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- Smarter Lunchrooms 101 – In this interactive self-paced online course, participants will receive an introduction to behavioral economics, the principles behind SLM, and the five-step process for implementing SLM.
- A Deeper Dive into the Smarter Lunchrooms Online Training Course (Coming soon!)
- Scorecards, Toolkit, and Other Resources
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- Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Scorecard - English | Spanish – Evaluates the school lunchroom on 60 items that encourage students to choose and consume healthier choices.
- Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Toolkit – The SLM Toolkit was developed by experienced SLM implementers and provides guidance and tools for each step of the SLM Five Step Process.
- SLM Action Plan Form – This resource can used to create a plan for putting SLM strategies into action.
- Lunchroom Photo Checklist – This resource contains suggestions and a checklist for photos to take during a SLM lunchroom observation.
- SLM Lunchroom Observation Logistics – This form can be used to record and keep track of logistics necessary when planning an SLM lunchroom observation.
- SLM Scorecard Summary – Use this form to record thoughts and impressions when conducting an SLM lunchroom observation.
- Smarter Lunchrooms Success Form – This template can be used to capture SLM success and quotes that can be shared with others in the school community.
- Getting to Know the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Video – This video provide an explanation of what to expect to share with partners before conducting a lunchroom observation to complete an SLM Scorecard.
Smarter Mealtimes Resources
Browse these resources to learn more about Smarter Mealtimes.
- Training
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- Smarter Mealtimes Movement: An Early Start to Healthy Eating Webinar – Hear from Smarter Mealtimes implementers on how they put SMM strategies into action.
- Smarter Mealtimes Movement: An Early Start to Healthy Eating Webinar – Hear from Smarter Mealtimes implementers on how they put SMM strategies into action.
- Scorecards, Toolkit and Other Resources
Evaluation
Evaluation tools for SLM and Smarter Mealtimes implementation
- Smarter Lunchrooms Movement
- 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.
Smarter Lunchrooms Scorecard Reporting Tool: Please enter your scorecard data into this online Qualtrics tool. - Smarter Mealtimes Movement
- Smarter Mealtimes Scorecard: 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.
Smarter Mealtimes Scorecard Reporting Tool: Please enter your Smarter Mealtimes scorecard data into this online Qualtrics tool.