Texas District Changes Placement Of Cafeteria Foods, Sees Increased Healthy Eating

The Austin American Statesman (9/2, Heinauer) reports that Austin, TX schools are changing lunch lines "so student offerings begin with milk , followed by fruits, vegetables -- first cold then hot -- and then the main entrée." The changes are based on "a New York Times opinion piece about how to make healthier options more marketable by switching things up in the lunch line." So far, the district has found "students were consuming 15 percent more fruit and 10 percent more fresh salad and vegetable dippers," and "hot vegetable consumption went up about 3 percent." Meanwhile, chocolate milk sales "dropped from 200 to 170 units."