CHEYENNE, Wyo.—Some schools in Cheyenne may have found a way to make students want to eat their vegetables.
Two Laramie County School District 1 schools are piloting the smarter lunchroom initiative through a grant from the Prevention Management Organization of Wyoming and the Laramie County Wellness Coalition.
The grant covered about $2,500 in changes, training and upgraded cafeteria items for the two schools.
“When you’re trying to get kids to eat healthier and provide access to healthier meals, it’s a comprehensive approach,” community prevention professional Lisa Ammons said.
The program, implemented at Cheyenne's Afflerbach and Baggs elementary schools, is based on behavioral economics and child nutrition work at Cornell University.
“It’s a redesign of a cafeteria, and it guides children to make smarter choices on their own,” Ammons said. “It changes behavior through easier access.”
The schools have made some simple changes, like moving fruits and vegetables to the front of meal lines and swapping clear plastic trays for black ones that make colorful vegetables more appealing, she said. The cafeterias also have added colorful posters that talk about healthy choices.