Positive Attitudes for Fruits/Veggies


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Submitted by Sarah Wamsley M... on Fri, 2009-07-10 14:34

A USDA Fruit/Vegetable grant enabled the school to provide student taste tests of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables allowing 400 students to try about 100 different varieties of fruits and vegetables in their classroom during a 6 month period.girls with pinwheel outside

Nutrition education was provided by the VA Cooperative Extension agent or PE teacher during the students’ PE class. The nutrition messages were reinforced on bulletin boards in the hallways and projects in art class.

At the beginning of the school year students were neutral to hesitant about having fruits and vegetables for snacks during the school day. At the end of the school year 90-95% were excited about receiving them at snack times.

Students demonstrated more positive attitudes about trying the unfamiliar fruits and vegetables. When asked to name a variety of snacks, students name fruits and vegetables primarily.
 

Parents have shared that their children are trying more fruits and vegetables at home.
 
Scheduling the serving of the fruit and vegetables within the school day for each classroom took negotiation and planning with the classroom teachers and school foodservice.
 
Williamsburg Community Health Foundation Grant, Charles City Elementary, Charles City, VA, Kristin Massey, Physical Education Teacher