Hospital Cafeteria to Charge Less for Healthy Items, More for Unhealthy Ones

Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, CO, has launched its Healthy U program, which encourages healthy eating by lowering the prices of healthy foods while raising those of less-healthy foods, reports the Reporter-Herald. For example, a vegetarian hamburger is now $2.25 while the beef burger is $3.

The pilot program, slated to continue through the fall in a cafeteria that serves over a thousand customers a day, will offer a variety of less expensive, healthy foods such as black bean and veggie burgers, low-calorie pizzas and grilled chicken sandwiches. The program was prompted by the results of a survey conducted last year that found that 86 percent of respondents said it was cost was a significant factor in their decision not to purchase healthier foods.