Smarter Lunchroom Lunchroom Self-Assessment Score Card

The two page Smarter Lunchrom Self-Assessment Score Card can help you to evaluate your lunchroom, congratulate yourself for things you are doing well, and and identify areas of opportunity for improvement. 

Michigan State University Extension offers free coaching through the Smarter Lunchrooms Assessment. They have Technical Assistance Providers that have been trained by experts from Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Program. Through a partnership with Team Nutrition, linited funds are also available to help the schools to make improvements.

To have an MSU Extension coach assist you, contact Becky Henne at henner@anr.msu.edu.

 

1. Step 4: Evaluate
2. Evaluation Tools

USDA-funded Child Nutrition Programs

Learn more about Child Nutrition Programs offered through the United States Department of Agriculture.

Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/child-nutrition-programs

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. Background

Smarter Lunchroom Webpage

The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement was started in 2009 with the goal of creating sustainable research-based lunchrooms that guide smarter choices. It is a grassroots movement of those concerned with the way children eat and wish to change these behaviors through the application of evidence-based lunchroom focused principles that promote healthful eating.

The mission of the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement is to equip school lunchrooms with evidence-based tools that improve child eating behaviors and thus improve the health of children.

The Smarter Lunchroom Movement is brought to you by the Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Program and is funded by the USDA ERS/FNS.

Access at: www.smarterlunchrooms.org

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. Smarter Lunchroom Resources

The Smarter Lunchrooms Scorecard App – LunchScore

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 track your results over time. 

Download the app for Apple and Android devices!

Watch Kathryn Hoy, MFN, RD, CDN the Manager of the Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs introduce this great tool! Click here to watch this 30 minute webinar.

Michigan State University Extension offers free coaching through the Smarter Lunchrooms Assessment. They have Technical Assistance Providers that have been trained by experts from Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Program. To have an MSU Extension coach assist you, contact Becky Henne at henner@anr.msu.edu.

1. Step 3: Gather
2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. Smarter Lunchroom Resources

Guide to Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs

This easy-to-use booklet is designed to help State agencies, school food authorities, and school nutrition professionals understand and apply the Final Rule on Professional Standards for School Nutrition Programs Personnel.

 

Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/guide-professional-standards-school-nutrition-programs

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2. Nutrition Education

Launch Your Day with Breakfast Stickers

Colorful 2” stickers to use as part of your school breakfast promotion events. Available to Team Nutrition Schools.

 

Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/launch-your-day-breakfast-stickers

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. School Breakfast

Smarter Lunchroom Training Materials

A collection of training materials in multiple formats including Webinars, lesson plans, “No Time to Train” PowerPoints and more. 

 

Available at: http://smarterlunchrooms.org/training-materials

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. Smarter Lunchroom Resources

Chef Designed School Breakfast

A resource designed to:  promote the importance of breakfast,  provide information on alternate breakfast serving style options, offer recipes that appeal to students’ tastes and meet the National School Breakfast (SBP) Meal Pattern (implemented July 1, 2013) and, encourage cost control requirements by utilizing USDA Foods (USDA Commodities)

 

Available at: https://sde.idaho.gov/cnp/shared/Chef-Designed-Breakfast-Book.pdf
 

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. School Breakfast

Discover School Breakfast Toolkit

 For those who have an interest in increasing access to the School Breakfast Program, determining the type of meal service most suited to their needs, and developing a marketing plan that will capture and keep their customers.

 

Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sbp/discover-school-breakfast-toolkit

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. School Breakfast

Start School with Breakfast: A Guide to Increasing School Beakfast Participation

A guide that seeks to promote alternative breakfast service models—breakfast in the classroom, grab n’ go and 2nd chance breakfast, among others—to educators, school professionals and those associated with the school community. 

 

Available at: http://neahealthyfutures.org/wpcproduct/start-school-with-breakfast-a-guide-to-increasing-school-breakfast-participation/

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. School Breakfast

Tools for Schools: Serving Whole Grain-Rich

A collection of policy guidance, resources and recipes to help foodservice directors serve whole grain-rich foods.

 

Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday/tools-schools-serving-whole-grain-rich

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. School Breakfast

Fact Sheets for Healthier School Meals

A collection of fact sheets developed by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service to help schools implement the major recommendations from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the nutrition foundation for all school meals programs.

 

 

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. Smarter Lunchroom Resources

Chef Designed School Lunch

A resource to help schools use a variety of USDA Commodities, meet the USDA Meal Pattern (implemented July 1, 2012) for Grades K-8 and 9-12, provide a two-week cycle menu that utilizes four to nine different USDA Foods per meal to minimize school food costs, and appeal to students’ preferences and tastes while incorporating a wide variety of healthy foods.

 

Available at: https://sde.idaho.gov/cnp/shared/Chef-Designed-School-Lunch.pdf

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. Smarter Lunchroom Resources

Comfortable Cafeterias

A PDF of a PowerPoint Webinar that explains how pleasant and positive mealtimes at school can set the stage for better learning, better behavior, and improved health.

 

Available at: https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/1213_np_sw_comfortablecafeteriawebinarslides.pdf

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. Smarter Lunchroom Resources

Fruits and Vegetables Galore: Helping Kids Eat More

A tool for school foodservice professionals packed with tips on planning, purchasing, protecting, preparing, presenting and promoting fruits and vegetables.

 

Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/fruits-vegetables-galore-helping-kids-eat-more

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2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. Smarter Lunchroom Resources

Recipes for Healthy Kids: Cookbook for Schools

A large-quantity cookbook that features foods both children and adults should consume more of: dark green and orange vegetables, dry beans and peas, and whole grains. Print copies free to schools and child care centers.

 

Available at :http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/recipes-healthy-kids-cookbook-schools

1. Step 3: Gather
2. Foods at School and School Sponsored Events
3. Smarter Lunchroom Resources