I was recently asked what were some of the measurable outcomes of the Smarter Lunchroom program. Here's what I sent them.
Top-Line Summary • 18% calorie reduction (Cohen et al., 2015). • .3-point decrease in obesity (Ickovics et al., 2019). • 20-27% less food waste (Williamson et al., 2016). • Projected $1.1 billion in health care savings over 10 years (Gortmaker et al., 2015). • Benefit-to-cost ratio of 4.2:1 (California Dept Ed, 2018). The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM), which was launched in 2009 Cornell University (2009-2017), applies principles of behavioral economics to nudge students toward healthier food choices without restricting options. While the program's approach of making small environmental changes in cafeterias seems intuitively beneficial, stakeholders rightfully demand evidence of concrete outcomes and measurable metrics of success. This report examines specific measurable changes in eating habits, reductions in obesity, and economic impacts resulting from SLM implementation. Impact on Obesity and Long-term Health Metrics While long-term obesity reduction studies are challenging due to the multiple factors influencing weight and the relatively recent widespread adoption of SLM, several studies have documented promising impacts:
Cost Effectiveness and Economic Impact The SLM approach stands out for its exceptional return on investment:
California Implementation Case Study California's statewide implementation of SLM offers compelling evidence of measurable success:
Conclusion The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement has demonstrated measurable, significant effects on student food selection and consumption patterns through rigorous scientific studies. While direct causal links to long-term obesity reduction are challenging to establish, the program has shown meaningful short-term impacts on caloric intake, nutritional quality, and economic outcomes. The evidence indicates that SLM is not merely encouraging habits that "might" extend into adulthood, but is creating immediate, measurable changes in eating behaviors that can contribute to healthier weight trajectories when implemented as part of comprehensive school wellness initiatives. Most importantly, SLM achieves these outcomes with minimal financial investment, making it among the most cost-effective nutrition interventions available to schools today. References California Department of Education. (2017). Smarter Lunchrooms Movement - Healthy eating & nutrition education. Retrieved from https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/he/smarterlunchrooms.asp California Department of Education. (2018). Team Nutrition Training Grant Final Report: Smarter Lunchrooms Movement of California. Cohen, J. F. W., Richardson, S., Parker, E., Catalano, P. J., & Rimm, E. B. (2015). Impact of the new USDA school meal standards on food selection, consumption, and waste. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 46(4), 388-394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2013.11.013 Golub, M., Charlton, V., Kuester-Orr, H., Odabas, K., Fisk, C., & Fukagawa, N. (2019). School-level factors associated with implementing Smarter Lunchrooms in Pennsylvania. Journal of School Health, 89(8), 622-630. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12798 Gortmaker, S. L., Wang, Y. C., Long, M. W., Giles, C. M., Ward, Z. J., Barrett, J. L., Kenney, E. L., Sonneville, K. R., Sadaf Afzal, A., Resch, S. C., & Cradock, A. L. (2015). Three interventions that reduce childhood obesity are projected to save more than they cost to implement. Health Affairs, 34(11), 1932-1939. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0631 Goto, K., Waite, A., Wolff, C., Chan, K., & Giovanni, M. (2013). Do environmental interventions impact elementary school students' lunchtime milk selection? Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 35(2), 360-376. https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppt004 Greene, K. N., Gabrielyan, G., Just, D. R., & Wansink, B. (2017). Fruit-promoting Smarter Lunchrooms interventions: Results from a cluster RCT. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 52(5), 451-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2016.12.015 Hanks, A. S. (2017). Smarter Lunchroom principles are worth every penny: How simple lunchroom changes impact the school meal program bottom line. Journal of School Health, 87(1), 21-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12461 Hanks, A. S., Just, D. R., & Brumberg, A. (2016). Marketing vegetables in elementary school cafeterias to increase uptake. Pediatrics, 138(2), e20151720. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-1720 Hanks, A. S., Just, D. R., & Wansink, B. (2013). Smarter lunchrooms can address new school lunchroom guidelines and childhood obesity. Journal of Pediatrics, 166(4), 867-869. Just, D. R., & Wansink, B. (2009). Smarter lunchrooms: Using behavioral economics to improve meal selection. Choices, 24(3), 1-6. Ickovics, J. R., Duffany, K. O., Shebl, F. M., Peters, S. M., Read, M. A., Gilstad-Hayden, K. R., & Schwartz, M. B. (2019). Implementing school-based policies to prevent obesity: Cluster randomized trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(1), e1-e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.08.026 Wansink, B. (2014). Slim by design: Mindless eating solutions for everyday life. New York: William Morrow. Williamson, D. A., Han, H., Johnson, W. D., Martin, C. K., & Newton, R. L. (2016). Modification of the school cafeteria environment can impact childhood nutrition: Results from the Wise Mind and LA Health studies. Appetite, 96, 80-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2015.08.037
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Ever notice how willpower seems to vanish right when you need it most? You're not alone! Despite our best intentions, about 95% of diets fail within six months. The good news? Making better choices doesn't have to rely on willpower alone. New research reveals a surprisingly simple approach to changing eating habits that doesn't require iron discipline or constant vigilance.
The Willpower Myth We've all been there: standing in front of the refrigerator at 10 PM, having a mental wrestling match between the carrot sticks and the chocolate cake. Conventional wisdom says we just need more self-control, more nutrition knowledge, or a stronger commitment to our health goals. But here's the surprising truth: education and willpower are vastly overrated when it comes to changing eating behavior. Research shows there's actually a very unreliable link between knowledge and behavior. Most public health programs that rely solely on education show small effects at often large costs. The 200 Decision Problem Although the typical person believes they make about 20-30 food-related decisions each day, research shows we actually make closer to 200! About 90% of these decisions happen without our full awareness because they don't involve careful deliberation. They're quick, instinctive choices made on autopilot. This gives us a tremendous opportunity. Instead of trying to overhaul your entire relationship with food through sheer willpower, you can set up your environment so your automatic, instinctive choices naturally favor healthier options. The CAN Approach: Your Secret Weapon The most effective way to change eating behavior isn't by convincing yourself that an apple is better for you than a cookie. It's making sure the apple is the most:
1. Make Healthy Choices More Convenient The easier something is to see, reach, grab, and eat, the more likely you are to choose it. Some ways to apply this principle:
In school cafeterias, simply placing fruit in a nice bowl in a well-lit part of the lunch line increased fruit sales by 103% for an entire semester—without changing prices or the fruit itself! 2. Make Healthy Choices More Attractive We eat with our eyes first. The more appealing something looks, the more likely we are to choose it. Try these strategies:
3. Make Healthy Choices More Normal We're social creatures who naturally gravitate toward what seems popular or typical. Here's how to leverage this tendency:
Start Small: Your First CAN Changes Ready to put the CAN approach into practice? Here are some easy ways to get started:
So skip the willpower battle and redesign your environment instead. By making healthy choices more convenient, attractive, and normal, you'll find yourself naturally gravitating toward better foods without the mental struggle. After all, it's much easier to become slim by design than by willpower alone! References Chandon, P., & Wansink, B. (2002). When are stockpiled products consumed faster? A convenience-salience framework of postpurchase consumption incidence and quantity. Journal of Marketing Research, 39, 321-335. Hanks, A. S., Just, D. R., & Wansink, B. (2013). Smarter lunchrooms can address new school lunchroom guidelines and childhood obesity. The Journal of Pediatrics, 162(4), 867-869. Just, D. R., & Wansink, B. (2009). Better school meals on a budget: Using behavioral economics and food psychology to improve meal selection. Choices, 24(3), 1-6. Van Ittersum, K., & Wansink, B. (2012). Plate size and color suggestibility: The Delboeuf Illusion's bias on serving and eating behavior. Journal of Consumer Research, 39(2), 215-228. Wansink, B. (2014). Slim by design: Mindless eating solutions for everyday life. William-Morrow: New York. Wansink, B., & Sobal, J. (2007). Mindless eating: The 200 daily food decisions we overlook. Environment & Behavior, 39(1), 106-123. Wansink, B., van Ittersum, K., & Painter, J. E. (2006). Ice cream illusions: Bowls, spoons, and self-served portion sizes. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 31(3), 240-243. |
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