Success StoryIncorporating Healthy Options in Schools



Incorporating Healthy Options in Schools

Author: Hannah Mayrand

Planning Unit: Montgomery County CES

Major Program: Youth Fruit & Vegetable Access

Plan of Work: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends children ages 6 to 13 years should consume 1.5 to 3 cup servings of fruits and vegetables daily. In 2013, the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated 44.6 percent of Kentucky adolescents consumed more than one serving of fruit daily and 42.7 percent consumed more than one serving of vegetables. In an effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in elementary school students in Montgomery County, the FCS Agent partnered with the local health department and Family Resource Coordinator to offer a healthy reward to classes who showed good behavior.  Instead of an unhealthy reward such as sugar sweetened beverages, students made a healthy snack which included fruit and/or vegetables that may not be common in households.  Many students were given the opportunity to try foods that they may have not tried before.  Students were surveyed and 68% of students stated they had not tried one or more of the foods provided in the healthy reward (kiwi, strawberries, yogurt, oranges, bananas, etc.). Over 90% of the students surveyed stated they would eat one or more of the foods tried during the program in the future and would ask their guardians to purchase these items in future grocery store purchases.  Due to the popularity of the program, interest was sparked to grow a school garden.  In the spring of 2018, classes were rewarded with planting and caring for the school's six raised bed gardens.  Produce from the gardens will then be used throughout the summer for learning opportunities for students in how to pick, prepare, and serve the produce.






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