Tips for Lunchroom Monitors

Tips for Adult Lunch Monitors

1. Review the Guiding Principles and the Elementary School Food Scenarios.

2. Introduce yourself when you meet the class for the first time or when new students join the class. 

3. Be food safe

• Role model proper handwashing and have students wash their hands before and after eating. 

4. Be aware of students with food allergies

• Check with the school administrator or classroom teacher to determine which students in the class have an allergy. 
• Find out ahead of time from a teacher/principal what the school’s allergy/anaphylaxis policy is and what to do if a student has a reaction. 
• Do not allow sharing of foods.

5. Keep mealtimes calm and pleasant

• Ask students to remain seated at their desks while eating and do not let them run around. 
• Make the mealtime enjoyable. Talk with students about fun topics that they enjoy.
• Help students open containers if needed.

6. Do not comment on student lunches

• Respect students’ decisions. 
• Trust students to know when they are hungry and when they are full. 
• Let them decide whether, how much, and the order in which they want to eat the foods from their lunchbox.