Smarter Lunchroom Strategies Smarter Lunchroom Strategies...eat the healthiest foods in the school...

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Smarter Lunchroom Strategies

Beth Tanner, MS, RDN, LDN

Illinois State Board of Education

Smarter Lunchroom Strategies

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Agenda

SLM Introduction

SLM Strategies

Activity!

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• Nationwide movement based on proven strategies for nudging students to select and eat the healthiest foods in the school lunchrooms by creating a lunchroom environment that makes the healthy choice the easy choice

Smarter Lunchrooms MovementWhat is it?

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How Does it Work?• Uses psychology and

behavioral economics to create a lunchroom that makes the healthy choice the easy choice

• Behavioral economics is the study of the connection between environmental cues and how they impact food choices

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How Does it Work?

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What are the Benefits?• Easy and inexpensive to implement

• Increases participation

• Improves student satisfaction

• Uses evidence-based strategies

• Increases healthy food consumption

• Reduces waste

• Engages school nutrition staff

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Does it Work?

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Lunch’d!Part 1https://vod.video.cornell.edu/media/Lunch%27d+Part+1/1_qwjsb3ux

Part 2https://vod.video.cornell.edu/media/Lunch%27d+Part+2/1_2bb2ywu1

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60-Point Scorecard

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Focus on Fruit

Vary the Vegetables

Highlight the Salad

Move More White Milk

Scorecard Categories

Boost Reimbursable Meals

Lunchroom Atmosphere

Student Involvement

School Community Involvement

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Focus on Fruit

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Vary the Vegetables

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Highlight the Salad

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Move More White Milk

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Boost Reimbursable Meals

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Lunchroom Atmosphere

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Student Involvement

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School Community Involvement

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Scorecard Award Levels

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Scorecard Updates

• School Community Involvement

The school participates in one or more food promotion programs such as Chefs Move to Schools, Fuel Up to Play 60, Share Our Strength, etc.*

The school has a partnership with Farm to School, local business(es), or a farmer’s market*

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Using the Scorecard• Arrive 20 minutes before the first meal service to

make observations before students arrive

• Plan to stay for at least one entire lunch period; try to stay for two lunch periods if you can

• Remember: each school is unique and may not be able to implement all the items on the scorecard

• Mark off items that currently reflect the lunchroom and use the scorecard as a list of items to consider for the future

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Scorecard Tips

• Only check off an item if it is completely true

• Verify certain items with additional staff members prior to marking them

• Be aware that some strategies may not work for certain schools

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Scorecard FAQs

https://www.smarterlunchrooms.org/sites/default/files/documents/SLM-SCard-FAQS-FINAL_1.pdf

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• Key features:

Mobile friendly so you can fill it out on-site right on your phone or tablet

Save a Scorecard in progress and return anytime to complete it

Upload photos to accompany Scorecard strategies

Save/Print a completed Scorecard with photos

Save/Print a certificate indicating the cafeteria’s award level

Makes tracking Smarter Lunchrooms progress EASY and provides a one stop location for Scorecard record keeping

Online Scorecard Tracker

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Smarter Lunchrooms Scorecard Summary

• Complete this page alongside the scorecard to provide a quick snapshot of the results

• 4 sections:

First impressions

Strengths

Opportunities

Next steps

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Spot Plan Do Prove

The 4-Step Path

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Spot

The 4-Step Path

• Assessing where your lunchroom stands before any changes are made

• How to:• Complete the Scorecard• Take Photographs

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Plan

The 4-Step Path• Develop your Smarter

Lunchroom Action Plan

• How to:• Review the scorecard and

photographs to identify areas of need

• Choose 3-5 strategies• Create a plan for each

strategy

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Do

The 4-Step Path• Complete the Smarter

Lunchrooms Action Plan

• How to:• Ensure lunchroom staff

are aware of the changes that are going to happen

• Complete the necessary training and communication, if needed

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Prove

The 4-Step Path• Evaluating the impact of the

changes implemented

• How to:• Complete a new

Scorecard

• Take pictures of the changes made

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Activity

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Resources & Tools

• The National Smarter Lunchrooms Handbook: How to Build a Smarter Lunchroom

• Available online as a PDF or a printed version can be obtained from the Smarter Lunchrooms office

https://www.smarterlunchrooms.org/sites/default/files/documents/SLM%20Guide%202019-web.pdf

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Resources & Tools

• Webinars related to Smarter Lunchrooms and other school food topics

– Smarter Lunchrooms scorecard and techniques

– School food service leadership

– Smarter Mealtimes & Early Childhood Education

– Waste Reduction

– Research

https://www.smarterlunchrooms.org/scorecard-tools/webinars

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Resources & Tools

• Resources from Pioneers

https://www.smarterlunchrooms.org/scorecard-tools/resources-smarter-lunchrooms-pioneers

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Smarter Lunchrooms Illinois Collaborative

To stay up-to-date on the latest Smarter Lunchrooms Movement information, news, and events, consider joining the Smarter Lunchrooms Illinois Collaborative!

To join, please contact Beth Tanner at etanner@isbe.net

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Next Steps

Assess your current

lunchroom needs

Develop an action plan

Create Smarter

Lunchrooms!

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Thank you!