Implementation Tool

Dining areas aren't attractive or don't have enough space for seating.

Many schools struggle with dining area constraints. Some schools choose to offer "open campuses" where students can leave the campus and purchase food elsewhere. Others stagger the lunch period. While scheduling constraints are difficult to overcome, establishing a regular and more reasonable schedule for students is important. Some school food services have been very creative in helping students consume a healthy lunch on campus by establishing "Healthy Vending Carts" where nutritious and reimbursable lunches are taken to students where they congregate - in a courtyard or in hallways, on mobile carts, thus taking away heavy traffic form the cafeteria. Others have provided quick brown bag or "Grab and Go" options so students can get a healthy lunch quickly and eat in other permissible locations. The long-term solution is to advocate for school buildings to be equipped with ample cafeteria space and for schedules to allow for reasonable meal times.