Healthier US School Challenge : Smarter Lunchrooms
Healthier US School Challenge : Smarter Lunchrooms Voluntary four-year certification initiative recognizing excellence in school nutrition and physical activity Consistent with school meal pattern requirements 4 Award Levels Bronze Silver Gold Gold Award of Distinction
Healthier US School Challenge : Smarter Lunchrooms General Criteria Schools must: Be enrolled as a Team Nutrition School Participate in SBP and NSLP Reimbursable meals meet USDA nutrition standards Corrective actions completed SFA must be certified for 6 cents
Healthier US School Challenge : Smarter Lunchrooms No meal criteria or documentation Smarter Lunchroom techniques are required Smart Snacks criteria are required Nutrition Education must include TN resources, if available, and be consistent with the Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate messages New Other Criteria of Excellence options added
Healthier US School Challenge : Smarter Lunchrooms Additional Criteria Established criteria to impact students at school, home, and in the community Nutrition Education Physical Education Physical Activity Local School Wellness Policy Other Criteria for Excellence
HUSSC: SL Awardees Receive Display Banner Certificate signed by the Secretary of Agriculture and mounted on a plaque Recognition on the Team Nutrition website Congratulatory letter signed by the First Lady of the United States Monetary incentives
Where can I find the application? http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/hsmrs/huss C/
WHAT ARE SMARTER LUNCHROOMS?
Eating Choices Most food decisions are influenced by our environment. We eat for: Taste Convenience Appearance
Student Food Choices How do we get adolescents interested in healthy foods? Make healthy foods cool Make the healthy choice the easy choice Not through restriction
School Lunch Challenge Improve nutritional content of meals Maintain low cost Maintain participation Encourage long-term healthy decisions
School Lunch Challenge Schools face budget pressure Cafeteria sales concerns Less healthy items often yield highest profit Healthier items are often lowest grossing Healthy items often have higher costs Kids may simply stop participating if unhealthy options are eliminated
The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement Create environment to nudge individuals to make a specific choice Inexpensive, easy, effective ways to change how kids eat in school You design the lunch room to gently encourage the decisions you want
Improve Visibility Enhance Taste Expectations Increase Convenience Six Principles of Smarter Lunchrooms Utilize Suggestive Selling Set Smart Pricing Strategies Manage Portion Sizes
Manage Portion Sizes Students respond to dishes and utensils Manage condiment usage Squeeze bottles with smaller openings Pre-portioned containers
Set Smart Pricing Strategies Using a prepaid system vs. cash Use bundle pricing for healthy items only Fruit and yogurt Sandwich, veggie sticks, and chips
Increase Convenience Place healthy foods in easy to reach locations Place unhealthy foods out of reach At the very top or bottom shelves Behind healthy items Behind the service counters
Increase Convenience Combo Meal- rename reimbursable meals Grab and Go- create healthy convenience lines Healthy Item sales increased 35%
Increase Convenience White milk sales increased by 50% when stacked higher and more convenient to reach.
Place at eye level Place first in line Place in high traffic areas Place in multiple locations Improve Visibility
Enhance Taste Expectations Naming Use cool or appealing labels to describe food Use age-appropriate names
Enhance Taste Expectations Packaging/Display Use contrasting colors Use appealing containers for pre-packaged foods
Enhance Taste Expectations
Signs Verbal prompts Utilize Suggestive Selling Friendly staff increases sales by 15%. Train staff to ask if a student would like a food.
Smarter Lunchroom Scorecard
Scorecard Focus on Fruit Smarter Lunchroom Principles Improve Visibility Increase Convenience Enhance Taste Expectations Enhance Taste Expectations Improve Visibility Increase Convenience Improve Visibility Increase Convenience Improve Visibility Increase Convenience Improve Visibility Enhance Taste Expectations
Smarter Lunchroom Scorecard Smarter Lunchrooms Self-Assessment Scorecard Clarification regarding Scoring Brackets Bronze Silver Gold GAOD HUSSC: SL >30 50 50 70 Smarter Lunchrooms (B.E.N. Center) 30-50 50-70 70-100 N/A Scoring Brackets
Smarter Lunchroom Moves..
Making a Smarter Lunchroom Complete the Smarter Lunchroom Scorecard Pick your area(s) of improvement Identify 3-5 techniques to implement Identify materials/supplies needed to carryout plan Identify data that will be used to measure
Additional Resources Wisconsin Team Nutrition http://ne.dpi.wi.gov/ne_smarterlunchroom BEN Center at Cornell University http://smarterlunchrooms.org/ Michigan Team Nutrition Smarter Lunchroom Moves videos http://www.michigan.gov/teamnutrition
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