LouisianaLA Fit Kids Child Nutrition Programs for a Healthier Louisiana

The 6 Smarter Lunchroom Principles

1. Manage Portion Sizes
2. Increase Convenience
3. Improve Visibility
4. Enhance Taste Expectations
5. Use Suggestive Language
6. Set Smart Pricing Strategies

Core Values of Smarter Lunchrooms

• Low Cost/No Cost Solutions
• Lunchroom Environment Focus
• Promotion of Healthful Eating Behaviors
• Sustainability

Does It Really Work?

In 2016, Child nutrition personnel (school food service authorities, managers, directors, technicians and other cafeteria staff) in the state of Louisiana (n=1,078) completed a needs assessment survey. When asked about perceived barriers to meal participation there was considerable variability (13-35%). However, students’ image of meals, preferences and family support identified as top barriers. That said, Louisiana is well poised to continue to adopt, implement and study Smarter Lunchroom Strategies. Whether it is re-naming menu items or highlighting the first entrée on the lunch line, Smarter Lunchroom Strategies are valuable solutions for improving meal participation for many programs across the state.

The Smarter Lunchrooms National Office has put together a list of Smarter Lunchrooms scholars as well as an annotated bibliography of field research:

• Scholars Across the U.S. Contributing to Smarter Lunchrooms Research
• Annotated Bibliography of Smarter Lunchrooms Research

Best Practices

In an effort to reach out and provide resources to schools across the nation, the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement has assembled a set of Best Practices which are effective at creating an environment that nudges kids toward healthful choices. These Best Practices are solution based principles which focus on specific aspects of the school meal. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Salad
• Reimbursable Meals
• Dairy

Success Stories

• Feature School: South Fork Elementary School, Idaho
• Feature District: Culver City Unified School District, California

Partners

Getting Started Guides

• The 4 Step Path to Building a Smarter Lunchroom
• Smarter Lunchrooms Action Guide
• Smarter Lunchrooms Action Guide - Strategies for Success (Chapter 4)

Training Materials

• Looking to train your staff, but don't have time? Check out No Time to Train: A Year of 10-Minute Workshops for Lunchroom Staff.
• Healthy Food Choices in Schools 30-Minute Webinar Series
• Free, Interactive, 2-hour Smarter Lunchrooms Online Training at Cornell University
• See Smarter Lunchrooms in action in these 2 short videos - Lunch'd: Part One and Lunch'd: Part Two.
• Michigan's Smarter Lunchroom Moves YouTube Videos - 20 useful, one-minute video clips showing real schools using Smarter Lunchrooms.

Resources

Evaluation Tools

Self-Assessment Scorecard