It seems that everywhere we turn someone is talking about creating a revolution to make kids school lunches healthier. This is a very important issue but getting a new law or policy passed can be tough, and can be a long process that requires a lot of work, resources and time, all of which we tend to have less and less of nowadays.
Instead, what if we could make a few simple changes in our schools that were inexpensive but could have a significant impact on how kids eat during their lunches while at school?
Dr. Brian Wansink from Cornell’s Food and Brand Lab
While attending the American Association of Diabetes Educators Annual Conference in Indianapolis, I was lucky enough to hear Dr. Brian Wansink’s key note speech. He is the founder of Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab, and is considered the authority in food research. His work has been widely featured on 20/20, BBC News, The Learning Channel, all news networks, and on the front pages of the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times.
During his speech, Brian introduced the Smarter Lunches Program which was started in October 2010, as a result of a partnership between Dr. Brian Wansink and Dr. David Just. This partnership produced the Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs (the B.E.N. Center). The BEN Center has driven the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement through combination of Food & Brand Lab research with school environments and under the direction of Dr. Wansink & Dr. Just, spring-boarded the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement into schools across the country.
So what exactly is the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement?
The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement was created with the goal of creating research-based lunchrooms that guide smarter choices, that are also sustainable and low cost. It is a grassroots movement of those who are concerned with the way kids eat and wish to change these behaviors.
The Smarter Lunchrooms core values include:
� Low cost/No-Cost Solutions
� Lunchroom Environment Focus
� Promotion of healthful eating behaviors
� Sustainability
How does it work?
To read the entire post, see examples and a list of resources, check out the full SurroundHealth article here.
