School Nutrition Program offers children new fruits and vegetables at school

The Houston County School Nutrition is expanding its Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant piloted at Pearl Stephens Elementary last year by adding Lindsey Elementary and Westside Elementary.

This grant provides funds to serve fresh produce in classrooms.

Students last year had the opportunity to taste starfruit, snap peas, jicama and a wide variety of exotic fruits and vegetables as well as items on grocery store shelves.

The overall goal of the program is to expose children to new foods and to teach healthy lifestyle habits. This year children in three schools will have a chance to try healthy snacks twice a week.

During the second week, students tried pluots, which is a hybrid fruit grown from a plum and apricot.

“We saw how much students and teachers liked the program and decided to take that success into other schools,” says Lauren Koff, dietitian for the School Nutrition Program.  “This is a true partnership between nutrition and education. Teachers incorporate the new foods into lesson plans, from writing practice to fruit wedge fractions.  The kids love the afternoon snack and can’t wait to see what fruit or vegetable is next, and getting excited over healthy food is what it is all about.”

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