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Snack program big hit at CES
Published Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Clanton Elementary students are enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables during snack time thanks to a new grant from the federal government.
The school system earned a $50,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to buy the fresh produce.
Child Nutrition Program Director Pat Clements said she applied for the grant for two reasons: to help students develop healthier snacking habits and provide for students who might not have snacks otherwise.
“The younger students start eating fresh fruits and vegetables, the more likely they are to acquire a taste for them,” said Clements. “Plus, not every child has a snack or money for a snack every day.”
So far this year, students have munched on apples, bananas, pears, plums, pineapple, oranges, grapes, melons and more.
Clements said the program hopes to add more exotic produce in the weeks ahead.
“We want to expose them to fruits and vegetables that they might not normally have,” Clements said.
The program started the first day of school. The grant also stipulates that nutrition education be taught to students.
The snacks are served to different grade levels on different days during snack time. The program has been a big hit with students.
“The children are loving it,” Clements said. “It’s been so received by the children. I think it will be valuable in helping them develop tastes for foods they might not otherwise have. This will teach them to choose more nutritious snacks.”
Much of the produce comes for local farmers, and all of it, except for pineapple, must be grown domestically.
This is the first year Chilton County has received the of grant. Clements hopes to renew the grant for next year and possibly expand the program to more schools.
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Comments
Posted by urentitled2myopinion (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 5:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ANYTHING has got to be better than their spaghetti! My child comes home starving. My child is in high school, can't take a decent lunch from home because there is no where to heat anything. These children can not even use a microwave to heat up leftovers from home. This energy thing is getting way out of hand.
I know you are going to tell me all about how when you were in school it was a left over cold biscuit carried in pail , how you had to walk 5 miles to school UP HILL both ways (lol), but these children are use to having a little convenience,if not going to feed them at least allow them to heat something from home.
Posted by Machelle (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know which high school your child goes to urentitled, but I happen to go to a lunchroom everyday to eat with a family member. The food I eat is much better than fastfood food and cheaper. Actually, the spaghetti I ate yesterday was some of the best I've ever eaten. Now, on the other hand, my daughter attends the same school and hardly ever eats the lunches, but thats because she is extremely picky. She just takes a lunchable. Even thought she's in high school, it's better than starving.
Posted by kba6001 (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this program is great! My children attend CES and they come home and tell me what they had for snack. One of my children had plums one day and she asked for plums from the grocery store! It helps to have healthy food choices at school to reinforce what children learn at home. Thanks for the grant!
Posted by jdavis22 (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to thank Ms. Clements for applying for the grant and seeing it through. As a parent of one of the Elementary School's students, I am glad to have a good snack provided for the students. My daughter too is a very very picky eater so we pack her lunch almost everyday, but she does enjoy the fruit snacks. Thanks again to Ms. Clements and the Board of Education for the work on the grant.
Posted by shenley (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is always someone that grumbles about the food. Can't please everyone.
Posted by opinions1 (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why does Clanton Elementary School only get the grant money for this fresh produce, instead of the other schools in Chilton County also? I have a child that goes to Thorsby and I'm sure they would like to participate also.
Posted by shenley (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
opinions1,
They may be the only school that applied for the grant.
You should pose the question to the Board of Education. Maybe they can help the other schools to get the grant approved. Sounds like all the schools should apply for that.
Posted by November162000 (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course, parents of children of any school can send fruits and vegtables with their kids to school. They sell that stuff at most grocery stores. Even Wally World. That way taxpayers as a whole wouldn't be having to pay for snacks for a relative small number of kids that probably is mostly being thrown away anyway, if the real truth were known.
Posted by November162000 (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And with that, Steven, we completely agree! There is a sure and certain way to get those little whipper-snappers to be a little less picky and finicky about their food. If they don't eat what they're given and parents don't give in to their whining, eventually they'll get hungry enough that they won't be too picky. I didn't particularly like eating worms and bugs in survival school, but it beat the heck out of starving to death, and, I wasn't given the choice of a Happy Meal or a bag of chips. I got over being picky pretty quick.
Posted by November162000 (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Crickets and ants went down pretty well. Easy to catch, too. Mushrooms were plentiful. Never did have any spaghetti to complain about, though.
Posted by realistic (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this is a great idea...!! Mrs. Clements should be thanked for her help in receiving this grant.
Posted by Likeitreallymatters (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure Ms. Clements applied for all of the elementary schools, but CES was the only one who got the grant. Many Elementary schools around the state received the grant, including Vincent Elementary and Midfield Elementary school. Unfortunately there is not enough available for every school to get it.
Posted by bree (anonymous) on August 27, 2009 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My daughter is a 12th grader at Jemison and loves the schools spaghetti, but she is not a picky eater. My son on the other hand is a picky eater but there is always something there he will eat. You can look at the lunch menu online and show it to your kids and on the days they have something your child doesn't like pack them a lunch. Thats what my kids do, on days they have certain things the kids won't eat they make themselves a sandwich, pack a fruit cup and some crackers and that way they have something they like. If parents would give their children fruit and veggies at home then the schools wouldn't have to worry about OUR kids getting proper nutrition. People often compliment my children, when we go out to eat they always order a salad to go along with their meals. It's because thats the way they were brought up. I've always cooked veggies and often just cook veggies with cornbread and my family loves veggie night.
Posted by gonefishin (anonymous) on August 30, 2009 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd just like to thank the people responsible for having this available for my child. He loves it. He does get veggies and fruit at home, but every little bit helps. While they may learn some things at home, it can be reinforced at school.
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