DAYTON — Students at Southeast Webster Grand Elementary School will be treated to more healthy snacks and be able to experience different fruits and vegetables thanks to a $10,000 nutrition grant.
Hidden Valley Salad Dressings, along with the School Nutrition and Produce for Better Health foundations, sponsored the grants that were given to 51 schools in 47 states. Southeast Webster Grand was the only school in Iowa to receive the grant to help teach students about fruits, vegetables and healthy choices.
“After their morning and afternoon recess they will get a healthy snack and they will also have a fruit and veggie bar during lunch,” said Sharon Heggen, principal of Southeast Webster Grand Elementary. “They will be getting fruits and vegetables as snacks instead of maybe cookies.”
The grant, which the school will receive for the 2008-2009 school year, will benefit pre-kindergarten through third grade students.
“We’ll try kiwi, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, watermelon, as well as cauliflower, broccoli and cucumbers,” said Judy Anderson, head cook at the elementary school. “I don’t want them to get used to just fruits. We need to get those vegetables in there too.”
“Variety will be important,” Heggen said.
The elementary school has 200 students in pre-kindergarten through third grade. The grant will be split two ways, with $1,500 going toward educating students about the benefits of eating healthy and the other $8,500 being used for the purchase of fruits and vegetables.
In addition to the grant, the elementary school will receive a three-month supply of ranch dressing from Hidden Valley Salad Dressings.
“I’m really excited about this grant,” Anderson said. “We’ll be able to give the kids more good things to eat.”
Contact Sarah Gengler at (515) 573-2141 or sgengler@messengernews.net
