Changing the American Lunch Room
Schools are back in session and while the classroom is very important, the lunch room plays a very significant role to students. Whether it is revising layout and design or implementing healthier foods, any change to your lunch room can be beneficial to students. Schools across the United States are implementing these different changes to better their cafeterias.
In a recent article by School Nutrition Magazine, they featured “Color Your Cafeteria Beautiful” which explains the benefits of adding color and vibrance to the cafeteria as opposed to the all too familiar “fluorescent lighting and cinderblock walls.” They discovered adding color can actually build participation, encourage students towards different menu items, and promote a positive attitude for everyone.
William Henry Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana is one of these schools that has implemented changes and saw improvement. Food art murals, photography and menu boards were added over white space. It increased purchases made in the lunch room by 28% in the first two weeks (and steadily growing) and also has enabled students to eat healthier.
Eating healthier is one of the major issues schools are tackling these days and the Roanoke School District in Roanoke, Virginia is one of many school districts making changes to better students. An article by the Roanoke Times looked into the district that has revised the entire lunch experience. Items like sloppy joes, pizza and cheeseburgers rarely appear on their six week cycle menu.
Photo from nutritionbyeve.wordpress.com.
Children have been introduced to (and are enjoying) healthier foods such as bean soup, turkey sandwiches and salads with a light dressing. They also are providing a variety of low fat milks as well as plain skim. They do acknowledge different flavors have almost twice the amount of sugar in them, however, have listened to experts who say the benefits of calcium outweigh the amount of sugar.
Instead of serving lunch, schools in the Roanoke district have an “offer” model which allows students to take only what they are planning to eat and in return decreases waste. And now during the few days where menu items like sloppy joes are available, students are going for the turkey sandwich instead!
So if you are trying to decide whether or not to make changes to your lunch room, consider the short and long term benefits it will have for your students and your school by making it a better and healthier environment.
