Beginning this month, we are reaping the benefits of a grant that our Food Service Director, Judy DiNatale, applied for and received for the Lamprey River Elementary School and the Iber Holmes Gove Middle School. The "Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program"grant comes from the US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service. This program is "an effort to help children learn more healthful eating habits and to introduce a variety of produce" that children might not have had an opportunity to taste.
The goals of this program are simple: to create healthier school environments; increase children's consumption of fruits and vegetables; and expand the variety of fruits and vegetables that our children eat. Of course, the over arching goal is to encourage students to have healthy diets for overall good health.
This is a government program so there are as many "don'ts" as "do's" Some of the things that cannot be offered are: processed fruits and vegetables; dips; juices; fruit snacks, such as 'leathers'; or smoothies. The things that must happen include: providing these during the school day (but not during breakfast or lunch); providing these to as many students and as equally as possible; and, of course, the offerings must be fresh.
So, if your child comes home over the next few months and announces that he/she has had a dragon fruit or a kiwi or strawberries, you will know where these came from. Mrs. DiNatale is ready to begin this around November 18 when supplies come in and our students will soon be trying some unusual and fun fruits and vegetables three days a week. I'm excited we are able to offer our students some new things and get them interested, not just in different foods, but different cultures and countries where these come from!
Please contact your child's school if there are any allergies to fruits or vegetables of which we might not be aware.
