Helping Kids Eat Better

DAYTON - "Fresh-picked," "sour," "leafy," "crunchy," "spherical" and "spikey" are just a few of the adjectives students in Ms. Wamble's Kindergarten/first grade classroom used to describe the smell, appearance, taste, and sound of a variety of salad greens and oranges they sampled at last week's presentation by Vickie Hodgson, a health educator with the Columbia County Health Department.

Since the fall of 2015, Hodgson has been making interactive presentations every six weeks, in all four K-1 classrooms at Dayton Elementary School. The purpose of the program is to help students expand their knowledge about fruits and vegetables, and to encourage them to make healthier food choices.

"We also hope to broaden their horizons and tastes, and establish better eating patterns out of the lunch room," Hodgson said.

Hodgson obtained a $4,000 grant from the Inland Northwest Foundation Children's' Fund, in September of last year for the program, she said.

Last fall, students in Mrs. Ramirez's and Ms. Yenney's K-1 classrooms benefitted from Hodgson's presentations. This year, K-1 students in Mrs. Payne's and Ms. Wamble's classrooms are getting the instruction.

"They are now able to sample a variety of fruits and vegetables that they might not get at home," said Hodgson.

Hodgson's focus on varieties of salad greens and oranges in Ms. Wamble's classroom included a review of the prior week's instruction about carrots.

"What shapes are they? What colors are they?" she asked them. And they remembered, listing "tubular," "yellow," "white," "red" and "orange".

Hodgson's presentation about salad greens and oranges included facts other than shapes and colors. She also talked about nutritional value, growth habits, and threw in a little culinary history, including the fact that on his second trip to the New World Christopher Columbus brought lettuce with him.

After the presentation, came the taste test. Student helpers passed the salad greens and oranges around to their classmates, who got to see, smell, taste, and talk about them.

There were a few grimaces when the children were asked to try the Minneola orange. Overall, there weren't too many objections from them.

Finally, Hodgson asked them to evaluate the fruits and vegetables on their like/dislike sheets.

"This is a really fun activity. The kids are very honest, and sometimes critical," said Hodgson. "Some things they like, and some things, not at all."

A letter to parents about the activity was sent home with the students, along with a handout on 50 ways to add more fruits and vegetables to their daily diet.

The students also received a sheet for them to check off the fruits and vegetables they have tried, and a ruler from the Washington State Dairy Council, listing the five food groups.

They also received a cookbook featuring "crazy curly broccoli bake," "rainbow veggie pocket," "banana in a blanket," and more.

A copy of the book "How Does Your Salad Grow" by Francie Alexander stays in the classroom for them to enjoy, Hodgson said.

Bosc pears are next week's featured fruit, said Hodgson, who wondered what students would think about their brownish color.

It's was hard to tell who was having more fun, Hodgson or the children. "I think they are as excited, as I am," she said.