Reverse Lunch Toolkit:
Play before Lunch!
Reverse lunch is a change in the order of
lunchtime and playtime at schools. Schools who
adopt reverse lunch have students play and be
active first, and then eat lunch. Research shows
there are many benefits to this simple change in
the timing of recess.
Included in this toolkit:
• information about the benefits of reverse
lunch
• ideas for starting a reverse lunch program
• sample resources for use at your school
Steps to Make it Happen
•
•
Benefits
Schools that have reverse lunch reap the benefits
of having their students play first and then eat
lunch. When recess is before lunch, schools
notice that students:
•
•
•
•
•
•
behave better on the playground, in the
lunchroom and in the classroom.
take in more nutrients, like calcium and
protein, by wasting less and eating more of
their lunch.
focus on eating rather than rushing through
lunch to get to the playground.
litter less on school grounds and inside the
school.
need less supervision during lunch.
return to the classroom calmer and ready to
work after lunch.
•
•
•
Build Support - Talk with staff, parents and
students about the benefits of reverse lunch.
Support from your school community, in
particular from school staff, is important.
Share information with your school
community to keep them informed. Attend
staff or parent council meetings; send a letter
home; or include information in the school
newsletter.
Develop a Schedule - Schedule at least 20
minutes for students to eat their lunches from
the time they sit down. Younger students
may need more time. Ask staff, volunteers,
and students for their input. Visit a school
that has reverse lunch to get ideas of what
may work for your school.
Don’t Forget Hand Washing - It is
important to include time for students to
wash their hands before eating.
Promote Healthy Eating - Students may be
hungrier and thirstier after playing. This is a
great time to promote healthy breakfasts,
snacks and lunches to students and parents.
Consider allowing students to keep a healthy
snack and a water bottle at their desk during
the day.
Evaluate - A new schedule is a work in
progress. Get feedback from those involved!
Talk with staff, students, families and others
during and after a trial period. Survey your
school community to assess the program and
identify possible changes.
Developed by Registered Dietitians
Nutrition Services
Sample School Schedule
There are many ways to schedule reverse lunch
at your school. Here are a few examples:
Sample Schedule A
Class
Recess
Class
Recess
Wash Hands and Lunch
Class
Recess
Class
8:35-10:15 am
10:15-10:30 am
10:30-11:25 am
11:25-11:45 am
11:45-12:20 pm
12:20-2:00 pm
2:00-2:15 pm
2:15-3:15 pm
Sample Schedule B
Class
Recess
Wash Hands and Lunch
Class
Recess
Class
8:25-10:50 am
10:50-11:15 am
11:15-11:45 am
11:45-2:00 pm
2:00-2:15 pm
2:15-3:30 pm
Sample Schedule C
1st Period
2nd Period
3rd Period
4th Period
Recess
Wash Hands and Lunch
5th Period
6th Period
7th Period
8:40-9:32 am
9:37-10:24 am
10:29-11:16 am
11:21-12:08 pm
12:08-12:31 pm
12:31-12:53 pm
12:58-1:45 pm
1:50-2:37 pm
2:44-3:22 pm
Fear of the Unknown
Educate others about the benefits of reverse
lunch, so that they understand the reason behind
the change. Reassure your school community by
sharing success stories from other schools that
have reverse lunch.
Difficulty Scheduling
Be flexible and creative in developing a schedule
that works for your school. Contact other schools
who have successfully started reverse lunch to
talk about their experiences. If possible, start
with only one or two grades to pilot the reverse
lunch.
Additional Resources
Included in this toolkit:
•
•
•
•
Sample Memo Home
Sample Survey for Staff
Sample Survey for Families
Sample Survey for Students
Websites:
•
healthyeatingstartshere.ca
http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/nutrition
/Page2925.aspx
•
Ever Active Schools www.everactive.org
Overcoming Concerns
Read on for solutions to common concerns about
reverse lunch.
Resistance to Change
Change can be hard. Inform your school
community about reverse lunch well in advance
to reduce resistance. Start reverse lunch on a trial
basis to give staff, families and students the
chance to provide feedback.
Reverse Lunch Toolkit: Play Before Lunch!
Adapted from: Play First Lunch Toolkit, Action Schools!
BC, www.actionschoolsbc.ca
Additional Acknowledgements:
•
Kathy Romses, Community Dietitian, Vancouver
Coastal Health
•
Betty Holmes, Licensing Nutritionist, Vancouver
Coastal Health and Parent
•
“Recess Before Lunch: Kids Play and Then Eat!” The
Montana Office of Public Instruction.
Page 2 of 6
Sample Memo Home
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Re: Reverse Lunch Program
Our school will be trying a new schedule that will allow students to play and be active first, and then eat
their lunch. This is called reverse lunch. By starting this program, we hope to see students:
•
•
•
•
•
behave better on the playground, in the lunchroom and in the classroom.
take in more nutrients, like calcium and protein, by wasting less and eating more of their lunch.
focus on eating rather than rushing through lunch to get to the playground.
litter less on school grounds and inside the school.
return to the classroom calmer and ready to work after lunch.
Before eating lunch, students will be dismissed for recess to play. After playtime, students will have time
to go to the washroom and wash their hands before returning to the classroom to eat lunch.
The new schedule is:
11:25 am
11:45 am
11:50 am
12:10 pm
12:20 pm
Recess
Bell to enter to use the washroom and wash hands
Bell to go to classrooms and eat lunch
Music appreciation and silent reading
Afternoon classes start
Schools that have reverse lunch find that students are often more hungry and thirsty while at school.
Encourage your child to eat breakfast and send a healthy snack with them to school. Please contact the
school for a list of healthy snack ideas or visit the Alberta Health Services School Nutrition website for
lunch and snack ideas at http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/nutrition/Page2925.aspx.
This new schedule will be piloted for up to (insert number) months. After the pilot period, we will be
evaluating the program to consider whether we should continue it in the future. We hope the reverse lunch
schedule will promote healthy eating and improve student achievement.
If you have any questions or comments about this new program, please contact the school.
Reverse Lunch Toolkit: Play Before Lunch!
Page 3 of 6
Sample Reverse Lunch Survey for Staff
We would like your feedback to help us decide how well the reverse lunch program worked at our school
and whether we should continue it in the future.
The goals of reverse lunch are that students:
•
•
•
•
•
•
behave better on the playground, in the lunchroom and in the classroom.
take in more nutrients, like calcium and protein, by wasting less and eating more of their lunch.
focus on eating rather than rushing through lunch to get to the playground.
litter less on school grounds and inside the school.
need less supervision during lunch.
return to the classroom calmer and ready to work after lunch.
Please answer the following questions:
1. Do you think the reverse lunch program helped achieve the above goals?
_____ yes
_____ no
If no, why not?
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. List any positive or negative outcomes you noticed for you or for students:
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Do you think the reverse lunch program should continue in the future?
_____ yes
_____ no
If no, why not?
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. Do you have any suggestions to improve the reverse lunch program?
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your feedback!
Reverse Lunch Toolkit: Play Before Lunch!
Page 4 of 6
Sample Reverse Lunch Survey for Families
We would like your feedback to help us decide how well the reverse lunch program worked at our school
and whether we should continue it in the future.
The goals of reverse lunch are that students:
•
•
•
•
•
•
behave better on the playground, in the lunchroom and in the classroom.
take in more nutrients, like calcium and protein, by wasting less and eating more of their lunch.
focus on eating rather than rushing through lunch to get to the playground.
litter less on school grounds and inside the school.
need less supervision during lunch.
return to the classroom calmer and ready to work after lunch.
Please answer the following questions:
1. Do you think the reverse lunch program helped achieve the above goals?
_____ yes
_____ no
If no, why not?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Did this change in schedule cause any difficulties to your child or family?
_____ yes
_____ no
If yes, why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. Do you think the reverse lunch program should continue in the future?
_____ yes
_____ no
If no, why not?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. Do you have any suggestions to improve the reverse lunch program?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your feedback!
Reverse Lunch Toolkit: Play Before Lunch!
Page 5 of 6
Sample Reverse Lunch Survey for Students
We would like your help to decide how well playing first and eating lunch later worked at our school and
whether we should keep it in the future.
Please answer the following questions:
1. Did you like to play first and eat lunch later?
_____ yes
_____ no
If no, why not?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Did you eat more lunch when you played first?
_____ yes
_____ no
3. Do you want to keep playing first and eating lunch later?
_____ yes
_____ no
If no, why not?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. Do you have any ideas of how to make your lunch program better?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your help!
Reverse Lunch Toolkit: Play Before Lunch!
Page 6 of 6
This is general information and should not replace the advice of your health professional. Alberta Health Services is not liable in any way for
actions based on the use of this information. This handout may be reproduced without permission for non-profit education purposes. This handout
may not be changed without written permission from [email protected].  Alberta Health Services (May 2011),
updated links (May 2016)