While some school cafeterias in Ontario have been forced to close because of government-ordered changes to their menus, one eatery is succeeding with nutritious versions of popular student meals.

At the University of Winnipeg, many students choose to stay and eat at school cafeterias in award-winning kitchens that serve food that is healthy and tasty.

"We're doing it all from scratch and we're sourcing it locally," said Chef Ben Kramer. "We're using organic as much as possible, and it's real food opposed to processed."

The cafeterias serves up traditionally-healthy options like stir fry and salads – but Kramer also offers chicken fingers, burgers and fries. All the meat is locally-sourced, the potatoes are hand-cut and the buns are whole wheat.

As well, these lunchtime classics come without the salt and grease banned by Ontario's new School Food and Beverage Policy.

"It's a good place," one student told CTV News. "It's worth a little extra price for the food, because it is good food."

The cafeteria's menu has helped boost sales by 20 per cent – a striking contrast to the situation at some schools across Ontario, including Arnprior District High School near Ottawa.

CTV News reported earlier this month that the Ottawa-area high school had to close its cafeteria after a new healthy menu led to a drastic drop of sales.

Without the junk food they were used to, students ditched the cafeteria for fast food joints up the street. And without the students' business, the cafeteria was forced to close.

The School Food and Beverage Policy, which is part of Ontario's Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act, came into effect on Sept. 1. It bans a number of products from schools, including fried foods, candy and sugary beverages.

It also calls for 80 per cent of a school's menu to include foods that are high in nutrients and low in fat, sugar and sodium.

University of Winnipeg President Lloyd Axworthy is worried that other school cafeterias will meet the same fate as Arnprior's.

He says his school's food model is one others can adopt and that healthy food doesn't have to be bad food.

"Whether it's kindergarten, high school or post grad, I think (students) have to eat well. There are now ways you can do it," he said.

With a report from CTV's Jill Macyshon