12/08/06 When eating in class is encouraged

Farm and Ranch December 8, 2006 Believe it or not, students at Shaw Middle School in Spokane are encouraged to eat during class. And the school's received an award for allowing it. That's because what the students are eating are fresh fruits and vegetables. The award came from the organization Access to Healthy Foods whose goal is increasing the availability of healthy foods where Washingtonians live, learn, work and play. Access Board Chairman Karen Bonaudi of the Washington State Potato Commission says the entire Board visited Shaw and witnessed the fruit and vegetable bar available at lunch. Bonaudi: "Where students could access fresh strawberries, blueberries, cut melons as well as sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers to put on their sandwiches and lunch plates for free. The school has made these fresh fruits and vegetables available to them through this grant program." The USDA grant program provides participating schools with free fruits and vegetables in an effort to positively impact the health of students and help create a life-long love of fruits and vegetables. As Bonaudi explains, Shaw students seem to have started down that path. Bonaudi: "What the nutrition coordinator at the school told us was that the patterns have really changed for those students and when they get to high school they are still wanting those fresh fruits and vegetables." That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.