nudge to nourish

for schools

Harnessing the power of food choice architecture in schools to change the way we eat

Did you know?

Around 95% of decisions we make are made without conscious thought.

As K-12 Food Service Providers, we strongly influence the ‘autopilot’ decisions that kids make in our cafeterias.

Changing their food behaviors begins with us.

We have an Opportunity.

We can build intentionally designed school food experiences that lead students to automatically select, eat, and enjoy nutritious food options.

The lasting impact:

  • Well nourished kids, who are developing healthy food habits for life

  • Increased focus, wellbeing, and academic success

  • Growth in school meals participation

  • Engagement of school nutrition staff

  • A program that supports the health of the planet and district sustainability goals

  • A district that serves as a lighthouse leader to others around the country

Food Choice Architecture (FCA) is the intentional design of food choices and spaces to make the healthy choices the easiest choice, without restricting options. FCA is rooted in behavioral science and can strongly influence the way we select and enjoy food.

How would we do that?

We can create a food environment where making nutritious food choices is easy and automatic for kids. How? We can use behavioral science to create intentional “nudges” that support the health of people, the planet, and the district.

We can design a food experience that:

  • Makes school meals delicious, convenient, and engaging, boosting meal participation

  • Influences kids’ food decisions, which ultimately establish their food behaviors

  • Outsmarts the brain to leverage autopilot decisions & natural tendency

  • Promotes healthy, sustainable eating strategies rooted in behavioral science

As a school food service operator, why does this matter?

  • Encourages Healthier Choices. Schools are embracing their role in making healthy choices easy for students. Food service companies can help students develop healthy eating habits in the long term by designing spaces that promote healthy choices.

  • Sustainability. Help progress sustainability goals by promoting food waste reduction and local, seasonal, and plant-based foods. Choice architecture can help schools reduce their environmental footprint by reducing food waste.

  • Enhances Student Wellbeing & Academic Outcomes: We help students select, consume, and enjoy nourishing foods. This is an important element that can contribute to academic success, as healthier food choices can enhance cognitive function, focus, and energy levels.

Understand

why we behave the way we do

Our Approach

Research

how the food environment impacts behavior

Distill

relevant research findings

Translate

research into actionable strategies

Share

knowledge

Want to learn more NOW?

Check out our free handout of Nudge to Nourish strategies to get you started with ideas for how to bring the program to life in your cafeteria.

Take Action

Empower your team with the knowledge, tools, and support to turn insight into impact. The N2N Learning Journey is grounded in long-term sustainability and workforce development, ensuring that every step creates measurable value for the nutrition service Team, the students, the community, and the planet.

What we offer:

  • N2N Introductory call (live virtual meeting) with School Administration

  • Pre-Program Survey (2 min)

  • N2N Introduction and Program walkthrough (live virtual meeting) for Nutrition Services Staff. This meeting counts towards Professional Development - Learning Codes 4160, 4140, 4130, 4120.

  • Workbook, which includes:

    • A program overview

    • Cafeteria self-assessment templates, to be completed by the nutrition services staff to identify what’s working well and where the biggest areas of opportunity are

    • Action plan templates

    • A Strategy Index (with references) with additional resources, including explanations for why each strategy matters and how to bring each strategy to life in your cafeteria. This index also includes engagement activity links, resources, and plug-n-play templates to engage staff, students, and the community.

  • Monthly virtual check-ins with Nutrition Services Team- Support to meet the needs of your school and answer any questions.

  • School certification and Award after completion of the program

Sheryl Allen, MS, PhD, RD

The idea to get food choice architecture into schools started in 2022. Through my work in corporate dining supporting large tech companies, I have seen how the environment we create can drive many of our behaviors and food choices. Through intentional food spaces, we can improve the health of people and the planet. My mission is to make behavioral science research and food choice architecture strategies accessible to the audiences that can benefit the most - our youngest diners.

K-12 students are in their formative years and are developing a relationship with food that will stick with them through adulthood. This is our opportunity to expose, excite, and let them enjoy the bounty of foods that are delicious and nourishing! As a mother of 2 young kiddos and a Registered Dietitian, I’m passionate about nourishing our kids to fuel a brighter future.

To learn more or to join the waitlist, please fill out the form below.