In this webinar recording, Adam Brumberg, Deputy Director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, and Erin Sharp, MS, MAT, Curriculum Designer for the Smarter Lunchrooms National Office, explain how to incorporate tray waste evaluation as a quantitative tool …
More or Less Plate Waste with Updated School Nutrition Policies?
Despite some negative press surrounding the new nutrition standards in school meal programs, many schools have seen a positive impact on plate waste and student consumption of healthful foods. Many changes to school meals were implemented in 2012 following the …
Introduction to Tray Waste Data Collection Techniques
Do you want to dig deeper into understanding what students are actually eating? It’s not nutrition until it is eaten, which is why we invite you to join us on the Technical Advising Professional’s Webinar Introduction to Tray Waste Data …
Feature Series: Reducing and Managing School Cafeteria Food Waste

Reduce Food Waste
School Food Waste Prevention Techniques: Tips to Develop a Fun and Collaborative Action Plan
The USDA has recently
What’s in Your Garbage? A First Look At Long-term Impact of NSLP Regulations and How Much Food Students Throw Away
In 2012, the first set of new school lunch guidelines were implemented as part of the USDA’s initiative to improve the nutritional quality of school lunches. Proponents of the policy claim that the new regulations increase student exposure to more …
Feeding Hungry Tummies: Lunch Hour Strategies to Curb Food Waste
The 2010 federal school nutrition standards have helped educate many of our students about new and healthy foods. A recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that the new school meal standards have not lead to an …
Tray Waste Part III: Effectively Present Your Data
The data that you collected can tell you the percentage of food being wasted before and after you implemented a change in your cafeteria. It will also tell you how many students are selecting food items. If food waste has …
Tray Waste Part II: 5 Simple Steps to Efficiently Measure Tray Waste
Measuring tray waste can give insights into what foods kids are eating and what foods are being thrown away. In order for the healthy foods to give students nutritional benefits, they must first eat them! Before and after implementing changes …
Tray Waste Part I: Determine the Impact of Lunchroom Changes by Measuring Tray Waste
Making healthy changes to the school lunchroom is a no-brainer, but how do you know if those changes are really making an impact?
Schools participating in USDA school meal programs are faced with regulations that dictate what foods kids can …