Children in Iowa schools and across the country are encouraged to make good choices in the lunch line. The U-S Department of Agriculture is making nearly six-million dollars available in Team Nutrition grants. Economist David Just says the money will go to agencies in Iowa and other states that fall within the National School Lunch program and many will use the money to implement a project called Smarter Lunchrooms.

“It’s a lunchroom that uses behavioral science to help children to both choose and eat fruits and vegetables and other healthier options,” Just says. Small, simple changes or alterations in presentation techniques are showing big results in the school lunchrooms.  “Taking fruit out of the stainless steel bins and placing them in an attractive bowl near the cash register can increase fruit consumption by 102%,” he says. He reveals other basic tricks that work.

“Placing white milk in front of the chocolate milk can increase white milk sales by as much as 26%,” he says. The U-S-D-A is funding more than two-thousand Smarter Lunchroom kits that will be distributed to school districts nationwide which provide information on how to help kids eat healthier. Iowa has 351 school districts and more than 473-thousand students.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa state Representative Dwayne Alons, who was battling renal cancer, has died. Alons, a Republican from Hull, announced his diagnosis last month. The Oolman Funeral Home in Hull said Sunday the 68-year-old Alons died on Saturday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After four tumultuous years, Secretary of State Matt Schultz is preparing to leave office with no regrets. Schultz, an attorney who previously worked at a Council Bluffs law firm, says he’s excited to return to the practice of law after winning easy victory in the November 4th election for Madison County attorney. He’ll take a pay cut and have a much smaller staff but says the job will keep him closer to his home in Truro and allow him to continue public service.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa town of Forest City has bought a new police dog and plans to revive its K-9 unit early next year. The Globe Gazette reports the police department plans to use $6,100 from forfeited property to pay for the German shepherd that’s expected to be ready to start patrolling the area in February.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A 5-year-old Iowa girl has died two weeks after she was hit by a truck while sledding down her grandfather’s driveway. Council Bluffs Police told KETV Kailey Maloney died Saturday at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She had been treated there since her November 16th injury.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa state Rep. Dwayne Alons, who was battling renal cancer, has died. Republican leaders in the state House announced Sunday that Alons died late Saturday. Alons, a Republican from Hull, announced his diagnosis last month, but at that point he planned to continue serving in the state legislature. Alons was a retired farmer and former Iowa Air National Guard brigadier general. He was first elected in 1998. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen says he is sad to loose such a passionate lawmaker

Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer says Alons did an exemplary job representing people in his district and listening to their concerns. Alons and his wife, Clarice, had four children and 13 grandchildren. In the House, he most recently served as the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs committee.