Rosedale Middle SchoolCAFETERIA REDESIGN

About RosedaleTHINGS WE LEARNED

Before we really started this project, we were made familiar with the 51% childhood obesity rate in Rosedale. We were informed of the efforts to remedy the situation, as well as programs like the Healthy Kids Initiative.

P!oblemTHE SCHOOL CAFETERIA ISN’T CONDUCIVE TO HEALTHY EATING

P!ototypes & P!ocessVISITING THE SCHOOL CHANGED OUR PROJECT

Our first idea was based on the notion that the students don’t have access to healthy food in their cafeteria. So we developed a concept that would change the school lunch standards and introduce healthier foods to their environment.

Before we had an opportunity to visit the school, we speculated what the cafeteria could look like in an ideal situation. This is a prototype that we came up with. The cafeteria would be lit to make the healthier items look more appetizing, with a strategic lunch line sequence to make the students choose healthier options before they even see their entree. This is an idea that stuck with us throughout the project.

O"ervationsTHINGS WE NOTICED

When we visited the middle school, we observed some things that changed our outlook on the project. The menu items weren’t as unhealthy as they seemed on paper, and the school’s enthusiasm about healthier habits was noticeable. This caused us to change our project a bit, and base our concept around utilizing the options they already have, instead of introducing a whole new menu.

Our SolutionIN A NUTSHELL: CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT, CHANGE THE HABITS

Our solution to reinforce these healthy habits is, in a nutshell, an environmental redesign. Our components consist of: a lunch line reversal, a new look for the cafeteria, and two types of menus (with healthy items renamed to be more appealing).

Simple ChangeREVERSE THE LUNCH LINE

The simplest change, by far, is to reverse the way the students go through the lunch line.

Instead of starting at this end, with a carb-heavy entree and glossing over the rest of the options, we enforce the opposite perspective…

…where the students will start here, and load up on a-la-carte items like vegetables and fruits, and then get to their entrees at the end. Simply being exposed to a different way of filling their trays will get them to more carefully consider the choices they make.

Menu ScreenMAKING THE FOOD LOOK GOOD

Another aspect to the cafeteria redesign is replacing this…

…which is rarely updated, and too small to read,…

…with a large display, showing the day’s menu items in a slideshow format.

Using appetizing photos and lively typography adds a sense of sophistication to the space, which conveys a more uplifting feeling to the formerly drab cafeteria.

In a study by Cornell University’s Food & Brand Lab, it was found that simply renaming and branding the fruits and vegetables in a school cafeteria nearly doubled the consumption of healthy foods. Attractive names are a great way to sell healthy food to kids.

So, with that knowledge, we’ve renamed the healthier items at Rosedale Middle School to be fun and engaging. The names also let the students know the health benefits of each item, making them aware of the reason why these are healthy for them.

Handheld MenusSECONDARY MENU FOR THE CLASSROOM

Another element to our system is a handheld classroom copy of the daily menu, which the students can explore to become more familiar with their options.

The menu changes daily, so there would be a rotation of menus in each classroom.

The menu is divided into sections like a typical menu, and items are color-coded based on the type of food. For example, vegetables are green, fruits are purple, and protein is red.

Environmental OverhaulREDESIGN THE SPACE. MAKE THE KIDS FEEL CARED FOR.

Finally, the environmental overhaul.

When we visited the Rosedale Middle School cafeteria, it looked beige. Floor-to-ceiling beige, and a sterile, metal lunch line.

Our redesign adds a friendly, more sophisticated feel, with wood paneling on the lunch line, and energetic color and fruit and vegetable decals on the walls.And here’s our menu screen in context.

Why?BECAUSE CHANGING AN ENVIRONMENT CAN CHANGE HABITS

The whole point of this project is to influence the choices that kids make so they can have healthier lives. Our ultimate goal would be to lower the Rosedale obesity rate, and every meal counts.