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Make Lunchrooms Smarter

This page focuses on Smarter Lunchroom Training
​for Food Service Professionals


The Smarter Lunchroom Movement is a no cost/low-cost approach schools can use to make it easier for children to make healthier choices at lunch.  Its behavioral approach is used today in 29,000 U.S. schools, and parts of it are used in other schools around the world.  ​ 
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Some FAQs About Smarter School Lunchrooms​

Schools can get started by downloading a 60-point Smarter Lunchroom scorecard.  Within 5 minutes you can see how your school is doing compared to other schools, and you can see how you can do better.

The research-based materials and training  we provide tells exactly how you can make no-cost changes in the lunchroom that will make it easier for kids to eat healthier.

You can get started with the easy steps below, or you go to the official webpage at SmarterLunchrooms.org for a lot more info. 
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1. Score Your School


2.  See the Solution


3. Share the FAQ

Download and fill out this Scorecard. It shows how your school's doing and what could be done differently (Spanish here).
​
Smarter Lunchroom Scorecard
File Size: 858 kb
File Type: pdf
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Here's a flier about how the Smarter Lunchroom approach works. It shows the win-win for both schools and kids.
Smarter Lunchroom Flier
File Size: 24074 kb
File Type: pdf
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Here's a 1-pager of FAQs.
Smarter Lunchroom FAQs
File Size: 871 kb
File Type: pdf
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Lunch Line Redesign, MTV-Style

MTV did a hip segment on how a 60 minute transformation in middle school cafeteria can help kids eat better.  Here's a three minute clip from the show .
​

My favorite line is when they show a girl picking out a cookie one week and a piece of fruit the next. When asked why she picked up a piece of fruit this time instead of a cookie.  She blurts out, "I don't know."  

​This summarizes why this Smarter Lunchroom approach is so powerful:  It works without people having to think about it.  It's why this same approach has worked everywhere from Google cafeterias, to Army base mess halls, to high end Norwegian hotels, to high school sports concession stands.  It makes healthy foods convenient, attractive, and normal to take.
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Learn More!

The Smarter Lunchroom Approach was designed to be easily implemented in either small pieces or in total.  While many ideas and changes can be made by simply completing the scorecard, looking for ideas in the Smarter Lunchroom stories, or surfing SmarterLunchrooms.org, there are also other options:

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Free Online Course

Learn some online Smarter Lunchroom basics while earning 2 continuing education credits from the School Nutrition Association.

​            [Click to begin]

One-shot webinars on specific topics. ​

Be a leader in your state.

• Become a certified trainer.  
• Lead a state-wide initiative
• Attend a Symposium

​            [Learn more]

No Time to Train?
​Here's a Year of Lessons - One School Month at a Time


Most professionals don't have the time they would like to take all of the trainings they would like.  For those people, we developed a 12-month No Time to Train ("NT three") program.  It gives you the option of learning one lesson a month in an easy-to-do way.  The focus is on the specific nitty-gritty of what to do and how to do it.  The full program can be found at SmarterLunchrooms.org, but the basics here can get you started. ​

1. NTTT-Jan-MakeMilkNumberOne
1._nttt-jan-makemilknumberone-3__1_.pdf
File Size: 751 kb
File Type: pdf
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​1. SCRIPT Jan Make Milk #1 NTTT
1._script_jan_make_milk_1_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1942 kb
File Type: pdf
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​1. SLIDES January Booster Shot Workshop NTTT
1._slides_january_booster_shot_workshop_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1987 kb
File Type: pdf
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​2. SCRIPT Feb Complete the Reimbursable Meal NTTT
2._script_feb_complete_the_reimbursable_meal_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1830 kb
File Type: pdf
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​3. SCRIPT March Student Rapport Role Play NTTT
3._script_march_student_rapport_role_play_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1835 kb
File Type: pdf
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​4. SCRIPT April Data Collection Techniques NTTT
4._script_april_data_collection_techniques_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1834 kb
File Type: pdf
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​4. WORKSHEET Tray Waste Data Entry Form NTTT
4._worksheet_tray_waste_data_entry_form_nttt.pdf
File Size: 521 kb
File Type: pdf
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​5. SCRIPT May See With Fresh Eyes NTTT
5._script_may_see_with_fresh_eyes_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1817 kb
File Type: pdf
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​5. SLIDES May Workshop NTTT
5._slides_may_workshop_nttt.pdf
File Size: 4977 kb
File Type: pdf
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​5. WORKSHEET Smarter Lunchrooms Case Studies NTTT
5._worksheet_smarter_lunchrooms_case_studies_nttt.pdf
File Size: 614 kb
File Type: pdf
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​6. SCRIPT June Reflection and Mission Statement NTTT
6._script_june_reflection_and_mission_statement_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1909 kb
File Type: pdf
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​6. SLIDES September Workshop NTTT
6._slides_september_workshop_nttt.pdf
File Size: 10725 kb
File Type: pdf
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​6. WORKSHEET Collaborative Mission Statement NTTT
6._worksheet_collaborative_mission_statement_nttt.pdf
File Size: 540 kb
File Type: pdf
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​8. SCRIPT- August, Introduction to Behavioral EconomicsNTTT
8._script-_august_introduction_to_behavioral_economicsnttt.pdf
File Size: 1699 kb
File Type: pdf
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8. SLIDES- August Workshop NTTT
8._slides-_august_workshop_nttt.pdf
File Size: 4937 kb
File Type: pdf
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​8. Smarter Lunchroom SCRIPT- August, Introduction to Behavioral EconomicsNTTT
8._smarter_lunchroom_script-_august_introduction_to_behavioral_economicsnttt.pdf
File Size: 1699 kb
File Type: pdf
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​8. Smarter Lunchrooms No Time to Train SLIDES- August 2018 Workshop NTTT
8._smarter_lunchrooms_no_time_to_train_slides-_august_2018_workshop_nttt.pdf
File Size: 4937 kb
File Type: pdf
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​8. Smarter Lunchrooms WORKSHEET- Behavioral Economics in the Lunchroom, 9 Key Ideas NTTT
8._smarter_lunchrooms_worksheet-_behavioral_economics_in_the_lunchroom_9_key_ideas_nttt.pdf
File Size: 511 kb
File Type: pdf
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​8. WORKSHEET- Behavioral Economics in the Lunchroom, 9 Key Ideas NTTT
8._worksheet-_behavioral_economics_in_the_lunchroom_9_key_ideas_nttt.pdf
File Size: 511 kb
File Type: pdf
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​9. SCRIPT Sept, Make Fruits and Veggies First, Fast and Fabulous NTTT
9._script_sept_make_fruits_and_veggies_first_fast_and_fabulous_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1646 kb
File Type: pdf
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​10. SCRIPT Oct, Positive Communication Cues NTTT
​10. WORKSHEET Cues for Positive Communiction with Students and Staff NTTT
​10. WORKSHEET Positive Communiction Role Play NTTT
​11. SCRIPT Nov Give Foods Catchy Names NTTT
10._script_oct_positive_communication_cues_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1835 kb
File Type: pdf
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10._worksheet_cues_for_positive_communiction_with_students_and_staff_nttt.pdf
File Size: 460 kb
File Type: pdf
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10._worksheet_positive_communiction_role_play_nttt.pdf
File Size: 778 kb
File Type: pdf
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11._script_nov_give_foods_catchy_names_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1848 kb
File Type: pdf
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​11. WORKSHEET Creating Catchy Food Names NTTT
​12. SCRIPT Dec, Trick the Treats NTTT
​12. WORKSHEET Incentives List for Dec Booster Shot NTTT
​FULL SCRIPT Smarter Lunchroooms NTTT no time to train 2018
11._worksheet_creating_catchy_food_names_nttt.pdf
File Size: 644 kb
File Type: pdf
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12._script_dec_trick_the_treats_nttt.pdf
File Size: 1930 kb
File Type: pdf
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12._worksheet_incentives_list_for_dec_booster_shot_nttt.pdf
File Size: 527 kb
File Type: pdf
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full_script_smarter_lunchroooms_nttt_no_time_to_train_2018.pdf
File Size: 20795 kb
File Type: pdf
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​Smarter Lunchrooms No Time to Train Trainers Script 2018
smarter_lunchrooms_no_time_to_train_trainers_script_2018.pdf
File Size: 20795 kb
File Type: pdf
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​WORKSHEET Healthy Celebrations NTTT
worksheet_healthy_celebrations_nttt.pdf
File Size: 531 kb
File Type: pdf
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​WORKSHEET Individual Goals NTTT
worksheet_individual_goals_nttt.pdf
File Size: 432 kb
File Type: pdf
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​WORKSHEET Serving up Health and Happiness Shiela's Secrets NTTT
worksheet_serving_up_health_and_happiness_shielas_secrets_nttt.pdf
File Size: 679 kb
File Type: pdf
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​WORKSHEET Serving up Health and Happiness Shiela's Secrets NTTT_0
worksheet_serving_up_health_and_happiness_shielas_secrets_nttt_0.pdf
File Size: 679 kb
File Type: pdf
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