Our kids’ school year just began the other day and I have decided to try something different to help our elementary school students eat more fruits and vegetables.  At the last school year’s PTA meeting I had been given the idea to get some parent volunteers to come in to help the first graders get through the lunch lines on those first few days of school.  Although they’d had a run-though of what to do/expect at the end of their Kindergarten year, it could be overwhelming for the wee ones when returning after their long summer break.  I decided to use the opportunity to do a little coaxing when it came to the fruits and vegetables.  Unfortunately our school lunch provider doesn’t automatically give the kids those, they usually just offer them.  And not only are they just offered, they are in small plastic containers (except a couple of whole apples, oranges or bananas) that are set in a bin the kids have to reach to get (which can be tough for the smaller ones). 

So, I organized my volunteers to gently persuade all the kids (grades1 through 4) to take as many of the small containers as they’d like by telling them what’s in them and to say, “which one would you like sweet red peppers or coleslaw… or both?” instead of just saying “would you like some vegetables?” And if they refused try to convince them they needed their vegetables and fruits for a well-rounded meal, to be strong, to be smart, to be healthy.  Whatever they could think of that would work.

Interestingly I found that the lunch ladies hadn’t planned on the kids taking so many of these containers of vegetables and fruits as we’d run out during service for each grade every time in the first week (they were prepared but in the walk-in inside the kitchen — where I wasn’t allowed to go).  In the past the kids didn’t feel compelled as the lunch ladies would sometimes suggest them, but were often too busy serving the next child in line to successfully get the kids to take them. One girl’s breakfast for lunch— she’d already eaten the “egg patty”. The Apple & Eve juice costs extra.

Now, there are some kids who always get the vegetables and or fruits and there are some kids who rarely or never take them. I had a few success stories that I was so proud of.  One boy wasn’t choosing any vegetables (the aforementioned peppers or coleslaw) and I asked him if he’d ever tried sweet red peppers.  He said he’d never had them before and thought they tasted like tomatoes.  I replied that they didn’t and they were crunchy and sweet.  I also said he didn’t need to eat them all but how about just trying them, he might actually like them.  He took them and when I checked up on him later he said he liked them.  I was really proud of him for trying them. 

Another boy refused the first two days so on day three I tried a different approach (he said he didn’t want to be big and strong like his dad or smart like his mom).  I know his parents and so I used that to convince him.  I asked him if his mom would like to know that he wasn’t taking any vegetables.  Eyes wide. “Why?!! Are you going to see her?”  I told him I would see her soon.  He scrunched his mouth and furrowed his brows as he thought about it.  He then paid for the lunch without any vegetables, marched out to his table, thought a little more about it and marched back to grab carrots, giving me a little sneer.  I told him I’d give him a “Raccoon Reward” (good behavior award at school) if he ate them all.  He poured himself a little ranch dressing for a dip and went back to eat them, which he did before actually eating or drinking anything else.  I gave him the reward and a high-five.  I did end up telling his mom and dad at a weekend party, but it was not to get him in trouble, just to relay the funny story.

On Friday the Food Service Director came in and we discussed how troublesome the new guidelines from the USDA are for the kitchen staff, because they allow only 3 ounces of protein per day, 1.4 ounces of grains per day and barely any fats or sodium.  The guidelines are necessary but can hamper getting soups in more often (or at all), deli sandwiches daily and other grain-based foods like pastas.  I need to brush up on the regulations.  But while he was there I did get him to remove the frozen desserts that were sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (most also had artificial colors).  The color issue it seems is something I’ll need to work on later with more people from our school district.My son’s lunch—ham, cheese,lettuce, peppers on whole grain roll from the “deli bar”.He’s got his red fruits & vegetables covered and some green too.

For now, I’m going back to help the kids make good food choices for the next four days.  Very proud of those kids; we have it down to only about 2 kids per grade refusing to get any fruits/vegetables. I might also arrange volunteers at random times during the school year to keep up the progress.  I’m fine being a fruit and vegetable pusher and glad I have so much support from the school and other parents.