How Do You Get High School Students to Make Healthier Lunch Choices?
Adolescence is the only time, besides infancy, when the physical growth rate increases, causing an increased need of calories and nutrients. Also during this time, kids are learning to function independently by molding their own lifestyle and food habits. This can further influence nutrient intake and needs; they tend to eat more meals away from home, making the food consumed at school an essential component of meeting their nutrient needs. During my foodservice rotation at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA, I learned there are several ways to effectively influence students’ choices in selecting healthier food items, including the following:
I highly recommend getting the students involved in the menu development process, as it creates excitement about the food and gives them ownership of it. I was able to do this at my foodservice site and we had such a positive response to the entrée the students created that it will be added to the menu in the fall.
For more information on how to get students to make healthier lunch choices click here!
Adolescence is the only time, besides infancy, when the physical growth rate increases, causing an increased need of calories and nutrients. Also during this time, kids are learning to function independently by molding their own lifestyle and food habits. This can further influence nutrient intake and needs; they tend to eat more meals away from home, making the food consumed at school an essential component of meeting their nutrient needs. During my foodservice rotation at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA, I learned there are several ways to effectively influence students’ choices in selecting healthier food items, including the following:
- Involve students in menu development or even food preparation
- Offer food samples of healthy menu items
- Market healthy menu items
- Display creative and descriptive age appropriate menu boards outside cafeteria of the targeted entree
- Create descriptive display cards and place them next to the targeted entrée
- Display whole fruit in attractive bowls or baskets at students’ eye level near the register or other high-traffic areas along the lunch line
- Give vegetables age-appropriate, creative names and add colorful name cards next to them
- Create a healthy item only convenience line or window
- Move all competitive foods (chips, cookies, candy, etc.) behind the counter so they are only available by request
- Provide nutrition education on the healthy food items being featured
I highly recommend getting the students involved in the menu development process, as it creates excitement about the food and gives them ownership of it. I was able to do this at my foodservice site and we had such a positive response to the entrée the students created that it will be added to the menu in the fall.
For more information on how to get students to make healthier lunch choices click here!
