School Menus Get a Makeover and the Kids Love It
When was the last time you heard that kids in a school lunchroom love broccoli, carrots, lettuce and tomatoes?
CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports students are saying "yes" to healthy foods, and "no" to junk food - all thanks to Kristin Richmond and Kirsten Tobey of Revolution Foods.
"We are just so motivated by the idea of creating a healthier generation," Tobey said.
Unlike old school lunchrooms, Revolution Foods won't serve anything with high-fructose corn syrup or trans-fat. Meats and dairy are antibiotic and hormone free. They prefer local, organic ingredients. Nothing is ever fried, but they promise it's always tasty.
"We knew if students were given a choice of a healthy meal that actually tasted really good and looked really good and was approachable to them," Richmond said. "We knew they would eat it."
Five years ago, the Berkely Business School grads behind Revolution were preparing 200 meals a day for one school. Now they're running a company that serves almost 60,000 fresh and healthy meals to mostly low-income students in 350 schools and programs from California to Washington, DC.
It's pricier than standard fare. The government reimburses schools up to $2.75 a meal. Revolution foods cost $3-4 a meal. Schools say the added benefit to the students is worth the added cost.
Their recipe for success: classic dishes with a healthy twist: chicken teriyaki is served over brown rice. Spaghetti and meatballs is made with less sugar in the sauce, and students get a say in the menu.
They're letting them know old eating habits are changing one healthy bite at a time.
