Once upon an unhealthy time, high school students would buy a Coke and candy bar from a vending machine and call it a day. But kids and teens today are much more health-minded. A new study shows that school concession stands — best known for their greasy hamburgers and cheese soaked nachos — can actually benefit from adding some healthy fare to their menus.

The study was recently published in the Journal of School Health.

“We found that an average of 77% of students purchased healthier food items when they were available and that revenue also increased when a variety of healthy items were available,” said Brian Wansink, PhD, Professor and Directory of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab and study co-author.

Beginning 2014, researchers at Cornell University and the University of Iowa teamed up with booster club presidents to publish their findings on healthy snack sales at their respective school concession stands. Researchers found that the eight USDA approved healthy items added to the menu accounted for 9% of sales — and sales increased by 4% overall.

Researchers conducted a follow-up study with more than 300 students to determine how they actually felt about the healthy meal options.

Nearly 80% of students who already felt healthy eating was important, reported purchasing at least one new healthy item. Of those who didn’t feel healthy eating was important, 76% of students still reported purchasing a healthy menu item.

Interestingly, the group who didn’t care as much about eating healthy indicated they were more satisfied with the variety of foods offered, while the healthy eaters were more satisfied with the taste and healthfulness.

The researchers stressed the importance of consistently making healthy food available to students wherever food is sold.

(h/t Cornell University Food & Brand Lab)


Also see, 6 tips for packing back to school lunches on a budget.


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Meghan is a full-time writer exploring the fun facts behind food. She lives a healthy lifestyle but lives for breakfast, dessert and anything with marinara. She’s thrown away just as many meals as she’s proud of.