They've been bombarded since birth by TV commercials for McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken. They demand salads and pasta dishes. Students won't bother with food that looks unappetizing, either. The dishes are colorful. Nothing is microwaved.
School cafeterias have to work harder and be more imaginative.
They're competing with McDonald's, after all. But the schools are succeeding. Only 10 percent of Klein's students bring their lunches to school. And they're laying off the kolaches, eating more salads and pizza. Maybe just as important, Klein's school cafeteria is turning a profit.