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

S 537, "The Smarter Lunchroom Act," requires New Jersey public and nonpublic schools to adopt simple, low-cost strategies from The Smarter Lunchroom Movement to promote healthier student meal choices. It directs the Commissioner of Education to support schools in implementing specific changes, such as placing fruits near cash registers, using creative names for vegetables, and positioning nutritious foods first in serving lines. The bill also mandates that the Department of Education provide clear, plain-language online resources about these strategies, including a self-assessment tool. This directly affects over 1.37 million students in New Jersey schools, where nearly 25% of children aged 10-17 are overweight or obese, aiming to improve cafeteria habits through evidence-based design.