Would Kids Eat Healthy Snacks From Vending Machines in School?
If the vending machines in school offered organic trail mix, vitamin water, and protein bars instead of junk food, kids would eat the healthier snacks! It is a truth universally acknowledged that the food kids get in school today is neither healthy nor delicious. School cafeterias and traditional vending machines offer cheap, processed foods with high fat and sugar content, and little nutritional value. But a recent study shows that when healthy meals are served in school cafeterias instead of the more common unhealthy meal options, kids do not shy away from the healthy lunches. The study looked at data on school lunches in over 300 Minnesota public school districts. They determined that the schools that served the healthiest meals experienced the same amount of demand for cafeteria lunches as the schools that offered only unhealthy meals. It is conventional wisdom that kids prefer junk food to more wholesome options, but this study suggests that for kids, availability is more importan
