"The Smarter Lunchroom Act;" promotes healthy food choices in school cafeterias.

The Smarter Lunchroom Act requires New Jersey public and nonpublic schools to adopt evidence-based strategies from the Cornell Center's Smarter Lunchroom Movement to improve student nutrition. It directs the Commissioner of Education to support schools in implementing specific, low-cost changes like placing fruits near cash registers, using creative names for vegetables, positioning milk at the front of drink coolers, and featuring nutrient-rich foods first in serving lines. The bill mandates that the Department of Education provide accessible, plain-language information about these strategies on its website, including a self-assessment tool. This affects over 1.37 million students in New Jersey schools who rely on cafeteria meals for breakfast and lunch.