Earlier this week, we reported that healthier foods were making their way onto lunch trays in schools in Oakland, Calif. Today, Garden Grove Unified School District had similar news to report for some its campuses.
Starting next month, students will benefit from healthier diets with more fruits and vegetables at 11 Garden Grove district schools because of a federal grant award. The schools ― Bryant, Eisenhower, Hazard, Heritage, Newhope, Rosita, Russell, Skylark, Simmons, Violette and Woodbury elementary schools ― will share $347,547 from the latest round of federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants.
Bryant, Eisenhower, Hazard, Skylark, Simmons, Violette and Woodbury schools are located in Garden Grove, and Heritage, Newhope, Rosita and Russell schools are in Santa Ana.
Statewide, $11.1 million in competitive grants were divided among 344 elementary schools. Children at the participating schools will see a variety of free fresh fruit and vegetable snacks as a supplement to federal school breakfast and lunch programs. Along with more wholesome diets, they will receive lessons to cultivate wiser lifelong eating habits.
Fresh fruits and vegetables will be served during morning recess a minimum of three times weekly to all students at the schools, and will be administered by the district’s Food Services department. Schools will offer one type fruit or vegetable each time, which may include oranges, watermelon, bananas, pineapple spears, broccoli, cauliflower, and sugar snap peas, as well as more exotic produce such as sliced mangoes or coconuts, and yams or sweet potato sticks.
“It is no secret that poor nutrition can contribute to underperformance in the classroom,” said Agnes Lally, GGUSD Food Services director. “Children with better eating habits, including diets rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, are more successful academically, have better concentration, and miss fewer days of school.
“This grant also provides an opportunity to expand the variety of fruits and vegetables available to children, and create healthier school environments by providing better food choices for young people to consume on a regular basis.”
The grant program is open to elementary schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program and have 50 percent or more of their students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Applicants are funded based on the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, with priority given to schools with the highest percentage.
