NPR Reika Noguchi and Dayanara Torres tend to the vegetable garden at the School Without Walls at Francis Stevens in Washington, D.C.Įvaluations show participation in FRESHFARM programs is associated with increased preference for fruits and vegetables. "It's completely not feasible for classroom teachers to do this on their own," she says, given all the demands on their time. "We really work hard to make it experiential which requires a lot of prep and a lot of clean up," says Jenn Mampara, director of education at FRESHFARM. But it also takes a lot of time, staff and resources. Teaching nutrition without a kitchen is a bit like swimming lessons without a pool, so this elementary school is fortunate to have a dedicated cooking classroom. "I've learned whole wheat has more nutrition, because it has the germ and the outer layer," of the wheat kernel he says, as he rolls out the dough with a rolling pin. "I'm whisking," Gibson says as they review a lesson on whole grains. Then he measures and pours dry ingredients for a cracker recipe into a bowl. "We grew these in our garden," Jessie Gibson, one of the students, says proudly. "Who's next," asks instructional coach Regina Green, as kids toss veggies into the sizzling pan and the aroma of fresh ginger and caramelizing onions fills the air. On the day we visited, 5th graders sauteed onions and collard greens. They also roll up their sleeves in the school's kitchen to participate in a FRESHFARM FoodPrints class, which integrates cooking and nutrition education. Students grow vegetables in their school garden. Department of Agriculture.ĭean told me she was inspired by a visit to Watkins Elementary, in Washington, D.C., where this idea is germinating. "I'd love to see it brought back and have the science around healthy eating integrated," says Stacy Dean, deputy under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services at the U.S. Remember the hands-on cooking in home economics class, which was a staple in U.S. schools in recent decades, there's new momentum, to weave food and cooking into the curriculum again. Farm to school events are happening all over the countrythis month aimed at bringing fresh food to students' plates.Īnd, after a decline in nutrition education in U.S.
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