A serving area that looks inviting and allows for faster service can allow kids to enjoy their lunch exponentially more, with time to visit with friends.Photo courtesy of LTI

Transforming your cafeteria into a vibrant serving environment will help your students and staff get the most out of their meals. For schools looking to engage their students better, three ways you can make an impactful difference are with beautiful serving counters, versatile mobile carts and flexible serving wells. Focusing on these areas will establish a welcoming foodservice environment for your students and help your school and district get the most for its budget. Here’s how:

Delight your students and increase meal participation with beautiful serving counters

You eat with your eyes first, and that rings even truer for countless cafeterias struggling with meal participation. When students face a lunch line that lacks a welcoming warmth, they will likely choose a different option than the cafeteria. That’s why the cafeteria environment is so critical. Partnering with a manufacturer who can design eye-catching counters with bright pops of school colors inspires a pride among students that results in tangible benefits.

“We’ve seen schools increase their meal participation up to 46% by making their cafeteria a more beautiful space,” said Audrey Casey Pearson, Chief Brand Ambassador for LTI. “With visually stunning serving counters built to last for decades, schools can draw in more kids for decades.”

Related:Federal bill would ban several additives from nation’s food supply

If more students participate in your meal programs, there’s far less food waste and, of course, a lower cost per meal. Two big wins for school districts. Additionally, higher participation leads to increased federal reimbursements, further supporting the program's financial sustainability.

 But there are more benefits for kids who enjoy nutritious meals every day. Students who eat school meals have been shown to score up to 17% higher on standardized tests, keeping them on track toward a future of higher education and financial security. Plus, better test scores also boost your school’s academic reputation. It’s a win-win for students and schools.

Serve more students from anywhere in your school with mobile grab-and-go carts

Breakfast in the courtyard for kids in a morning rush? Lunch in the hallway to lessen a crowded cafeteria? With just one mobile grab-and-go cart and one staff member, you can serve hundreds of students every day from anywhere in your school—and without digging deep into your budget for major infrastructure changes.

But carts are more than just convenient and flexible. They’re impactful. “Schools are turning their mobile carts into student-run operations where teenagers can get real-world lessons on professional communication, financial management and other business essentials,” Casey Pearson said. With so much potential, rolling a mobile cart into your school feels like a no-brainer.

Related:Metz’s Mushroom Day places a spotlight on local fungi

Give students more time to socialize by serving them faster with flexible food wells

Thirty minutes is the average time students have to walk to the cafeteria, wait in line to grab their food, sit down and eat, and enjoy a few minutes to chat with their friends.

It’s not enough.

And if the lunch line is backed up, your students could walk away without a meal so they can spend more time socializing.

“As much as kids crave hearty meals, they also crave meaningful time with their friends, especially during this digital era,” said Casey Pearson. “That’s why serving quickly is essential—and staff can do that with flexible food wells.”

With independently-controlled and convertible food wells that switch temperatures quickly, staff can adapt their menus at a moment’s notice and serve more students in less time. Once kids know they can get their meals without waiting in a long line, they won’t have to ask themselves: “Should I skip lunch today to hang out with my friends?”

Selecting the right long-term serving system for your school

Related:Montgomery County Public Schools joins the Urban School Food Alliance

While no two schools are the same, all schools are looking to make smart investments when selecting cafeteria equipment.

With beautiful serving counters, versatile mobile carts and flexible serving wells, you can raise your foodservice standards, increase meal participation and even provide educational opportunities that can prepare your students for a brighter future. But to get the most out of your investment, your school should look for a manufacturer known for helping build beautiful serving systems that can stand the test of time.

 “It’s a known fact that a welcoming cafeteria environment has a major impact on students,” said Casey Pearson. “As schools look to find ways to get students more engaged and make the most of their foodservice, don’t overlook the power of your serving system.”