Excited Knowles Hill School, Newton Abbot, pupils mobbed the school restaurant when it became the first in Devon to open a milk bar. Teign School, Kingsteignton, soon followed suit.
Both schools are cutting out unhealthy fizzy drinks and favouring the healthy option – milk.
Tanya Leisinger, catering manager at Knowles Hill School, was concerned that children were drinking far too many sweetened, fizzy drinks while at school.
The milk bar offers a choice of three flavoured milkshakes, attractively presented, bearing the caption, The White Stuff, and is designed to offer students a healthy alternative at an affordable price.
Carrie Ann Lang, of year eight, said: 'I am pleased to be offered such a pleasant but healthy drink and look forward to sampling all the flavours.'
MissLeisinger commented: 'Following the success of the opening of the milk bar, I hope that other schools in the region will think about installing one to encourage students to drink more milk on a regular basis.'
Teign School has taken the initiative further.
It has stopped selling confectionary to encourage pupils to follow a healthy diet.
Gone are chips, pizza and other fatty foods, and in are tuna pasta bakes, homity pie, and courgette and mushroom mornay with potatoes and vegetables.
The milk bar at the Kingsteignton school was officially opened by Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross, who could see the new menu for himself.
Research has proved that pupils who follow a healthy lifestyle, eat sensibly and take regular exercise will improve academic performance.
A new menu has been agreed on, and chilled water will continue to be available for free.
Headteacher Alan Pritchard said: 'We are determined to continue the drive to raise academic standards and improve on our already excellent results.
'We believe this is another factor in helping that aim. Schools are also about more than academic performance and we can hopefully help sow the seeds for our students to enjoy an active and healthy adult life through the changes we are making now.'