How do you get your kid to break the chips and fries lunch habit and eat more lettuce or apples at school?

Check out Friday's editorial page in The New York Times (preferably the print version which shows a chart).  Two Cornell professors, along with an illustrator, have diagrammed what they say is a more inviting school cafeteria lunch line. A "Lunch Line Redesign" appears to entice students into choosing healthier foods than the usual snacks and pizza that have contributed to an epidemic of childhood obesity.

According to the authors,  upstate schools have successfully adopted some practices which encourage children to choose healthier food, such as:

  • Creating a speedier checkout for kids who skip dessert and chips
  • Charging for cookies
  • Moving fresh vegetables, like broccoli, to the front of the line
  • Providing smaller bowls for breakfast cereals<!--more-->

When  Insideschools reporters visit schools, we've noticed an increased number of salad bars, and big bowls of fruit prominently displayed in some cafeterias.  Last spring the Department of Education teamed up with TV celebrity Rachael Ray to promote healthier school foodand even school gardens.( On the other hand, parents and students aren't happy about banning all sweets and treats -- especially when sold in fundraisers.)

We're wondering if the lunch line redesign is trickling down into your school. What's happening in your cafeteria? What ideas do you have for persuading kids to choose peas over pizza at lunchtime?