With the help of Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Staff, Food Service Director Michael Wensel decided to conduct a Smarter Lunchrooms assessment at Crystal Area Schools in Carson City, Michigan to see where changes needed to be made and what methods would be most effective.
The school then formed a Smarter Lunchrooms team made up of a select group of students, a teacher, Michael himself, and MSU Extension Nutrition Program Instructor Lindsay Padgett. Each month, the team would meet to discuss what was successful and what was not. An example of the practices they implemented to encourage kids to make healthier food choices was smoothie taste tests. Crystal Area Schools would hand out smoothie samples and asked students which one they preferred and would like to possibly see in the future.
More from this Michigan Team Nutrition Smarter Lunchroom Moves Success Story Compendium:
- Smarter, Brighter, and More Inviting Salad Bars
- Impact of Smarter Lunchroom Coaches
- Partnerships Create Culture of Health
- School Gardens Engage Students
- Smarter Lunchroom Moves that Work
- Smarter Lunchroom Student Teams
- Student Input Fuels Participation
Contributor
Nicholas Drzal, RD, MPH, Michigan Department of Education
For more information, contact Michael Wensel, Food Service Director, Crystal Area Schools, Carson City, Michigan