Who’s adopting the smarter lunchroom approach? Individual characteristics of innovative food service directors

Abstract

School cafeterias and, subsequently, food service directors (FSDs) play a vital role in feeding children in the U.S. This study investigates which FSDs with different characteristics and organizational affiliations are most willing to embrace and implement new programs in their cafeterias. In 2014 we surveyed a representative sample of 8143 school FSDs across the U.S. regarding their knowledge and use of innovative methods that encourage children to select healthy food options. Nearly all of the surveyed FSDs (93%) are aware of behavioral strategies to promote healthier eating in school lunchrooms, and nearly 93% report having made at least one change in their lunchroom. Male FSDs are more likely to be aware of new programs, though they are less likely to adopt them relative to female FSDs. In addition, membership in a professional organization increases awareness as well as the number of changes made by 0.14 (p<0.01). Finally, 22% of all respondents say they know about the Smarter Lunchrooms approach, a set of research-based lunchroom behavioral strategies that positively influence children to select healthy foods. The findings highlight the importance of participation in professional associations which provide career-building activities for school FSDs increasing awareness and adoption of innovative approaches to motivate children to eat the nutritious foods. Given these findings, there is reason for policy makers and school districts to consider allocating funds to encourage FSDs to engage more fully in professional association meetings and activities.

State Laws Are Associated with School Lunch Duration and Promotion Practices

“…24 Such efforts that apply the principles of behavioral economics are low-cost, evidence-supported practices that are increasingly common across the country. 24,25…”

The science behind Smarter Lunchrooms

“…This is the largest and most methodologically appropriate examination of the Smarter Lunchrooms intervention approach to date. Moreover, the intervention condition employed eight different Smarter Lunchroom strategies to alter dietary behaviour (Gabrielyan, Just and Wansink (2017) In this trial, among children receiving the Smarter Lunchrooms intervention there was an average increase in daily fruit consumption of 0.10 units of fruit and this was statistically significantly different to the control condition. Put in a more meaningful context, this suggests that children receiving the Smarter Lunchrooms intervention approach increased their daily fruit consumption by approximately one tenth of a small apple (USDA link).…”

“…I was also surprised by how quickly the Smarter Lunchrooms intervention approach appears to have been disseminated and implemented in US schools. For example, according to data collected in 2014 by researchers from Cornell University (Gabrielyan et al, 2017), thousands of schools in the US were likely to be using this intervention approach in 2014. However, the first randomized control trial assessing the overall effectiveness of the Smarter Lunchrooms intervention approach only began in 2014 (Greene et al, 2017).…”