Christine Rock, Director of Food Service for the Poudre School District in Colorado has seen a dramatic difference in one high school's milk consumption over the last three years. By changing Rocky Mountain High School's participation in the National School Lunch Program, making a few alterations to the beverage lineup and switching from cartons to plastic bottles, Christine has helped the students at the school drink more milk, and adjust to not drinking carbonated beverages.
When Rocky Mountain High was not on the National School Lunch Program and soda was sold at lunch, the school sold approximately 135 cartons of milk per week (with lunch and ala carte). Then, in 2003, the school went back on the National School lunch program and sold approximately 495 cartons of milk per week (with lunch and ala carte). Which is a nice boost!
However, in 2006 Christine made a few, but more dramatic changes to Rocky Mountain High's milk program, by switching to plastic packaging. She went to the 8 oz. bottle of milk (1% white and 1% chocolate) from cartons. They now sell approximately 1,100 8 oz. bottles of milk per week (with lunch and ala carte).
Plus, they sell an additional 120 16-oz. bottles of milk a la carte each week. While Christine reports that the milk in plastic costs a little more, they didn't raise the price of lunch, and the increase in sales has offset the expense.
Christine says that the change to plastic has definitely increased milk consumption, and the students don't miss the sweetened drinks!
