Before the beginning of this school year, Calaveras Unified School District Food Services partnered with local nutrition programs to look for ways to support healthy eating among the district's roughly 2,800 students. Staff from Dairy Council of California, CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE, and Calaveras County Public Health spent a day with food service staff from schools throughout the district to discuss the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement and brainstorm ways to encourage kids to make healthy choices in the cafeteria. Based on the principles of behavioral economics, the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement uses research-based strategies to nudge children towards a healthier diet. Many great ideas were shared over the course of the day, which food service staff and nutrition educators will be working to implement this year, from creating enticing names for cafeteria favorites, to posting fun and colorful signs for healthy foods, and more.
To learn more, visit SmarterLunchrooms.org.