When I was in school they placed a Snapple vending machine alongside a Coca-Cola one. Then a few years later, when it was “discovered” that sugary drinks may not be all that healthy, the machines were removed. Perhaps now they have moved on to mistakenly placing Vitamin Water vending machines in their place. There is hope, and who knew that the federal government would somehow be behind it? Twenty-five California schools are joining the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program.
The idea is to get kids to try those items that they find least appealing: spinach and cabbage not the least among the taboo edibles. It all started back in 2002 when schools in Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and a Zuni reservation in New Mexico launched the program to promote better eating for children. It’s a simple concept, and one that fresh food lovers already understand. If you make these items available to kids, and you make them well, then miraculously kids will eat their greens.
Any time fresh fruits and vegetables can push out Hostess cakes and donuts from school cafeteria’s I’d call that a win. According to the LA Times the 2008 federal farm bill is providing nearly $49 for the program this school year in order to expand fresh fruits and veggies to schools in all 50 states.
Photo by The Wandering Angel on flickr.
