On August 7, the cafeterias at Poudre Valley Hospital and Medical Center of the Rockies will be among the nation's first to serve up a taste of what hospitals preach to patients: eat right to stay healthy.

PVH and MCR will encourage that message through a pilot program that lowers the prices of healthy food while raising the cost of less-than-healthy choices.

For example, while a veggie burger is currently more expensive than a hamburger, the hamburger price will increase and the veggie burger price will decrease, making it less expensive to eat healthy.

The pilot program will continue through the fall and will offer a variety of less expensive, healthy foods such as omelets, sandwiches, and a low-calorie Healthy U pizza.

"The feedback that we've heard is that cost is the barrier when it comes to eating healthier," says Robyn Smith Brown, director of MCR's Hospitality Services. "Healthy U Picks is designed to take down that barrier."

The name "Healthy U Picks" was chosen to coincide with University of Colorado Health's Healthy U, which currently offers programs and initiatives to improve the health of community members and employees.

Other resources:

Want a hamburger? That will cost you extra in the cafeteria

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