Snack time for McCord Elementary students will be a little “fresher” thanks to a grant through the Fresh Fruit Vegetable Program (FFVP). The federally-assisted program provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to children at eligible elementary schools at times other than breakfast and lunch.
“The program helps schools create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables the children experience, and by helping us give the students the opportunity to eat more fruits and vegetables,” said Vernon ISD Child Nutrition Services Director Skyler Boatman. “The main goal is to introduce new fruits and vegetables to the students.”
The snack for the McCord students on Wednesday was green Granny Smith Apples. While an apple may not be considered a “new” fruit to most, the green Granny Smith was definitely “new” to the pre-kindergarten students in Ms. Emily Duncan’s class.
As the teacher handed out the individual bags to her pupils she explained the fruit inside was an apple. “Apples are red, not green!,” one youngster exclaimed.
Several of the students smelled the apple and tentatively touched a slice with their tongue before putting it in their mouth. There were a few pinched, puckered faces after the first bite, but all of the students ate all of their apple and gave it a “thumbs up” when Ms. Duncan asked if they liked it.
As she handed out bags to her students, first grade teacher Mrs. Jana White learned most of her students had eaten green Granny Smith Apples before and knew all about their sour taste.
Mrs. White and her students discussed the different type of apples, and talked about how, while the Granny Smith is green, it tastes much different than a pear. They also discussed if apples are better eaten off the core, or cut off the core and into slices. The majority enjoy an apple eaten right off the core.
Teaching the students about the fruits and vegetables they will be eating is also an objective of the program, as it hopes to help the children set healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime.
“Vernon ISD is fortunate to receive this grant to help introduce new fruits and vegetables for our kiddos to try,” Boatman said. “This is just an opportunity to expand the number of fruits and vegetables children may enjoy and that, in turn, provides more healthier food choices that they like.”