Michigan Third Graders Celebrate National Nutrition Month with Interactive Produce Processing Presentation

Nutrition

Local team inspires healthy eating habits with fresh, seasonal produce

March is National Nutrition Month®, a time to encourage healthy habits that foster connections to families and friends, cultures, and even the preparation and ingredients of comforting meals. The Chartwells K12 team at Wyoming Public Schools in Michigan brought the celebration to the classroom for an interactive produce processing presentation, giving kids the hands-on opportunity to learn about healthy eating.

Focusing on the various processing procedures that produce undergo and highlighting the significance of consuming minimally processed foods, three enthusiastic third-grade classes at Oriole Park Elementary School explored the reasons why certain produce items are only available during specific times of the year and how national events can impact the distribution of everyday grocery store products.

“Giving kids hands-on opportunities to explore seasonal foods helps connect them to the food they eat, and a better understanding of where their food comes from and when,” said Connor Kooyers, Director of Dining Services at Wyoming Public Schools. “We created the presentation to be an engaging and fun way for kids to learn.”

Fostering a deeper understanding of the food supply chain and the benefits of choosing natural, minimally processed foods, student participants were eager to learn and participated actively in the discussions, asking thoughtful questions and sharing their own experiences.

The real star of the show was the fruit sampling session at the end of the presentation, featuring four exotic fruits for students to try: kiwifruit, kumquats, dragon fruit, and star fruit. These fruits were chosen for their rich content of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals, all of which contribute to a heart-healthy diet. The goal was to emphasize the importance of incorporating natural sweeteners into daily diets and to demonstrate how these fruits can be a healthier alternative to artificially processed products.

“The students were open to trying new fruits and displayed surprisingly diverse palette preferences,” said Clark Wasson, Executive Chef at Wyoming Public Schools. “Kiwis and dragon fruits emerged as the favorites, but a few students even liked the tart citrus flavor of kumquats.”

Held annually in March, National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. This year’s theme, “Food Connects Us,” focuses on how food serves as a powerful connector, bringing us closer to our cultures, families, and friends.