Smarter Lunchrooms Louisiana
About

What is Smarter Lunchrooms Louisiana (SLL)?
SLL launched in February 2017 with a statewide training of school health and child nutrition professionals. The goal is to use research-based evidence to design lunchroom environments that help children choose healthier options. The mission is to provide Louisiana schools with low cost, sustainable tools that improve child eating behaviors and the overall health of our state’s children.

The 6 Smarter Lunchroom Principles
- Manage Portion Sizes
- Increase Convenience
- Improve Visibility
- Enhance Taste Expectations
- Use Suggestive Language
- 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:

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:

How Will Your School Benefit?
Completing the Smarter Lunchrooms Self-Assessment Scorecard is a required component of applying for the HealthierUS School Challenge Award. You are well on your way to getting recognized as a health-promoting school!

How to Get Involved


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
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Smarter Lunchrooms Movement |
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Smarter Lunchrooms Self-Assessment - 60 evidenced based strategies to nudge healthy choices. |
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Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals |
Evaluation Tools
Self-Assessment Scorecard

- 1. Download the PDF
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2.
Download the App!
The Smarter Lunchrooms Scorecard is a quick and easy way to evaluate your lunchroom and help set goals for improvement…now it’s gotten easier with the app LunchScore! The app automates the scorecard process, allows you to take pictures to document your progress as well as tracks your results over time. Watch the recording by Kathryn Hoy, MFN, RD, CDN, the Manager of the Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs, to learn about this great tool!
The Smarter Lunchrooms App Is No Longer Available
Helpful Tools for the App:
The Smarter Lunchroom Scorecard App – LunchScore PowerPoint Presentation