Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM)
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.
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.
Technical Advising Professionals
SLM Technical Advising Professionals (TAPs) support and advise schools and school districts in the SLM five-step process. Some of the ways TAPs support schools is:
- Conducting the SLM scorecard assessment
- Leading schools through action planning
- Supporting schools in implementing changes to the lunchroom
- Providing training and technical advising
Please note that while most of the resources below are freely available, CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) programs are only able to provide support to schools and sites that qualify for CFHL services.
Resources
Please see the resources below for information & tips on the Smarter Lunchrooms and Mealtimes Movement.
- Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM) Implementation Tools & Resources
- • SLM Scorecard: English | Spanish
• SLM Scorecard Reporting Tool (Qualtrics)
• SLM Technical Advising Professionals Toolkit
‣ The TAP Toolkit was developed by experienced TAPs and provides guidance and tools for each step of the SLM TAP Process.
• SLM National Handbook
‣ 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.
• Additional SLM Implementation Tools
‣ Includes creative naming resources, student surveys, sample wellness policy language, and more.
• Best Practices and Success Stories
‣ Examples from successful SLM implementations. - Smarter Mealtimes Implementation Tools & Resources
- • Smarter Mealtimes Scorecard: English | Spanish
‣ 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 (Qualtrics)
‣ Please enter your Smarter Mealtimes scorecard data into this online Qualtrics tool.
• Smarter Mealtimes Handbook
‣ This handbook is filled with tools and resources to help build an environment that makes the healthy choice the easy choice.
• Smarter Mealtimes Posters
‣ These posters provide simple tips for implementing Smarter Mealtimes strategies.
• Alphabet Posters: English | Spanish
• Alphabet Flash Cards
‣ These fun posters and flash cards can be displayed in eating spaces or as part of a nutrition education activity. - Internal CalFresh Healthy Living, UC Resources
CFHL, UC Allowable Smarter Lunchrooms and Smarter Mealtimes Movement Expenditures
- • These guides assist 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.
Smarter Lunchrooms and Smarter Mealtimes Purchase Request Form
- • If the item(s) you are planning to purchase are listed in the yellow column of the CFHL, UC SNAP-Ed Funded Smarter Lunchrooms and Smarter Mealtimes Movement Expenditures guides, or are not listed in the documents at all, please complete this form and submit it to State Office to determine if your purchase is reasonable and allowable.
- • These guides assist 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.
SLM Technical Advising Professional (TAP) Certification
To become a TAP, educators complete the following steps:
- Step 1: SLM 101 Webinar Series
- Step 1: Smarter Lunchrooms Movement 101 Webinar Series
In this interactive webinar series, participants will receive an introduction to behavioral economics, the principles behind SLM, and the five-step process for implementing SLM. By attending this webinar series, participants will have completed the first step in becoming an SLM Certified Technical Advising Professional. (Please note, viewing the recordings is not sufficient to complete this step; this webinar series includes interactive activities that are necessary for achieving the learning objectives. Please consult your SIA SLM lead on how you can meet this requirement if you are unable to attend live.) - Step 2: SLM Technical Advising Professional Online Training Course
- Step 2: SLM Technical Advising Professional Online Training Course
In this course, you will learn the basics of completing the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement 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.
Access is limited to those that have completed SLM 101. - Step 3: SLM Guided Lunchroom Observation
- Step 3: SLM Guided Lunchroom Observation
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.
CFHL, UCCE Staff: Please reach out to Anna Jones to be connected with a Guided Lunchroom Observation in your area.
Quick Links
Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM)
- SLM Scorecard - English
- SLM Scorecard - Spanish
- Smarter Lunchrooms Scorecard Reporting Tool (Qualtrics)
- SLM Technical Advising Professionals Toolkit
Smarter Mealtimes Movement
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.
Trainings
Trainings on SLM and Smarter Mealtimes implementation
- Smarter Lunchrooms Movement
- 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 101: An Introductory Workshop Recorded Webinars
In this webinar series, participants will receive an introduction to behavioral economics, the principles behind SLM, and the five-step process for implementing SLM.
(Please note that while these webinars are part of the first step towards SLM TAP certification, viewing the recordings is not sufficient to complete this step due to interactive activities that are necessary for achieving the learning objectives. CFHL, UCCE staff - Please reach out to Anna Jones to learn how you can meet this requirement if you are unable to attend live.)
SLM Technical Advising Professional Online Course
This self-paced online course is the second step of SLM TAP certification.
In this course, you will learn the basics of completing the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement 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. Access is limited to those that have completed SLM 101. - Smarter Mealtimes Movement
- 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.