Located in an ethnically, socio-economically, and culturally diverse Pennsylvania
neighborhood where proper nutrition is lacking, Vida Charter School will use
the
grant
money
to
purchase
food and cooking equipment for its Food is Elementary
Program.
Dear Consumer Wellness Center,
Throughout this year, the 85 kindergarten through fourth grade students of
Vida
Charter School have participated in an adapted application of Antonia Demas’ Food
is Elementary curriculum. In the first semester, they studied food groups and
sub food groups (vegetables, vegetables that are botanically fruits, leafy green
vegetables, fruits, citrus fruits, local fruits (apples), protein-rich foods,
whole grains, whole grain breads, also vitamins, calcium-rich foods, red meats
and the importance of exercise). Most weeks they sampled an assortment of foods
from that week’s group. Chef Ann Cooper's Healthy Kids’ Meal Wheel
served as a graphic to base conversations regarding proportions of different
types of foods needed for healthy bodies. During second semester, lessons focused
on a different culture each week, with activities centered on making a recipe
from that culture. Many weeks, a community member from the given culture visited
and shared personally about her or his heritage and helped to cook. Each week
the recipe was translated and sent home to each family in their home-use language.
Children practiced not only food preparation skills, but also communication
skills, with two groups each week presenting what they learned and what they
cooked with
another class, after which both classes would sample the foods together. We’ve
encouraged an “I’ll try it” attitude in respect to all foods,
and many children have indeed found new foods that they like. Others have actually
tasted little, but have eagerly participated in the food preparation, which we
hope to be a step in their process of learning to eat healthy foods.
It’s been a challenge to channel the energies of 18-27 children cooking
at a time, and we couldn’t have realized our program without the support
of various parent volunteers who helped to supervise hand-washing, cutting and
mixing and helped immensely with serving the samples and clean-up. This has helped
to make it a school community activity enjoyed by all.
Thanks again for the Consumer Wellness Center grant that helped us to purchase
ingredients and cooking utensils and cover clearance checks for parent volunteers!
We fully utilized the grant to cover these expenses.
As we wrap up our nutrition and foods program for this school year, the children’s
enthusiasm inspires us to provide on-going opportunities for hands-on learning
about healthy food in future school years. Please keep Vida Charter School in
mind in the future if you again are looking to support healthy food experiences
with children!
Thanks so very much,
Audrey Hess, RD
Volunteer nutrition educator
Vida Charter School
