Design healthy eating spaces

This strategy draws attention to factors beyond food and drink that influence healthy eating patterns at school. It involves taking a critical look at the physical space, time, and social culture of school meals, then making changes informed by best practice.

With small shifts in design, you can make it easier for students to focus on their food, and transform school meals into an experience they look forward to and enjoy.

You'll need to be flexible to implement this strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow the latest guidance on health measures in schools, and contact your AHS public health inspector if you have questions.

Design pleasant eating spaces

Use the school spaces you have to provide a comfortable and pleasant eating experience for class cohorts. Consider use of traditional spaces (like cafeterias or classrooms) and alternative spaces like outdoor classrooms, learning commons, studios, and gyms. These spaces have the potential to support healthy eating as long as they:

• Are well maintained and clean
• Have access to facilities for hand washing and sanitizing
• Are safe and accessible for all, including students with mobility challenges and food allergies

Bonus: try to offer a variety of seating options—not everyone is comfortable with a single set up! For example, give class cohorts a chance to use different eating spaces each day or week (with careful cleaning in between groups).

Consider when students eat at school

If you can, build some flexibility into when students eat at school. This is especially important for younger students who may find it hard to wait for scheduled times to eat.

Try to provide at least 20 minutes for students to each lunch. (Remember, the clock starts only after students have washed their hands, gathered or purchased their food, and taken a seat).

• For younger grades, consider recess before lunch, where students head outside for unstructured play and social time before they eat. It has been shown to help kids focus on their food and reduce waste, and may improve behaviour.
• For older grades, connect with students about what works for them. They may have creative ideas about how to limit time spent transitioning in the hallways, waiting in line to buy food, or finding a space to eat their meal. 

Keep it positive 

For some students, eating at school can be an overwhelming or challenging experience. Use these tips to improve the social atmosphere at lunch (while also boosting the likelihood they’ll eat):

• Engage students about the design of eating spaces and the changes they’d like to see—for example, they can design murals or create artwork for eating spaces.
• If you can, limit electronic distractions like phones, tablets, or movies during school meals. Instead, you can:
  • Use conversation prompts or trivia questions to encourage discussion
  • Read out loud or play audiobooks
  • Set up lunch playlists 
• Limit loud sounds (like whistles and bells) to help encourage conversation.
• At least once in a while, encourage students to sit with different peers (within the same cohort).

Make water the drink of choice

Use design concepts to promote drinking water throughout the school day. Try these proven actions:

• Encourage students to bring reusable water bottles from home, and keep them handy in the classroom.
• Provide easy access to water refill stations.
• Designate time for water breaks during the school day.
• Use posters or other visual prompts to remind students and staff to drink water.

Design features have been shown to influence the likelihood that students will drink water and eat healthy food (like vegetables and fruits) when they have the opportunity at school.

They’re an important part of the healthy food environment, a component of the comprehensive school health framework.

You might also like these related topics:

• Focus on food literacy
• Go beyond food
• Market healthy food and drink

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