Do you remember when, as a child, you were told to “eat your fruits and vegetables”?  Then, you looked at your plate and moved the little round green things from side to side, hoping they would go away?

Well, times have not changed!  Studies indicate that children are not eating the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.  Research shows that fruits and vegetables are powerful defenders of our health and should be the foundation of a healthy diet.  In addition to protecting us from many chronic diseases, they provide essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. 

Serving a variety of fruits and vegetables and helping students to learn and enjoy these foods is part of the important work we do.  When planning our menus, we pay particular attention to offering a variety of fruits and vegetables that are rich in Vitamins A and C.  Plus, we want our students to learn the importance these foods play in a healthful diet.

Our “Fruit and Vegetable of the Month” program introduces new and different fruits and vegetables all school year.  Each month, we highlight a fruit or vegetable that we normally do not serve to our students.  We provide fun facts and nutrition information plus during lunch we provide each student with a sample.  At the conclusion of each month we analyze the popularity of the item and decide whether or not to add it to our menus.  For example, last year we added jicama and Brussels sprouts.

This school year we will be featuring the following: