In an ongoing effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in the NBES students schools through nutrition education, the BCS School Nutrition Department has been actively collaborating with the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) for over two years.
Brittany Wager, the Program Coordinator for ASAP’s Growing Minds program, and her staff (as well as interns), host monthly taste tests in Fairview and North Buncombe Elementary Schools. They feature local produce and reward the participating students with a sticker and a recipe card to take home. Brittany provides the nutrition education, discussing where the food is grown, nutrients, etc. as the students sample the food.
“This is just one of the ways that we can encourage the students to try a variety of fresh produce, as well as providing us the opportunity for outreach to the families beyond the schools” says Mary Andreae, BCS’ Nutrition Specialist. In addition to the monthly taste tests, ASAP also provides nutrition education support at Emma Elementary as part of the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program, a BCS grant funding nutrition program.
Mark DeMarco, a chef from The Biltmore’s Cedric’s Tavern, provided a butternut squash and local apple soup, as well as fresh sour doughNBES students bread to the students of North Buncombe Elementary School. ASAP planned and organized the event, and staff from the School Nutrition Department helped support their efforts. The students at North Buncombe have become accustom to these tasting opportunities and a surprising number of them are willing to try new vegetables and foods.
Due to budget restrictions, ASAP is currently only able to fund the two schools in BCS. The School Nutrition Department is hoping to grow the program in order to reach more students across the county. In addition to growing this program, BCS School Nutrition will be starting School Nutrition Advisory Councils (SNAC) in the high schools. These will be student run councils that help provide a platform where youth can be more actively involved in their cafeteria selections as well as learn more about nutrition. Lastly, BCS School Nutrition will be hosting Produce Fairs through our produce vendor, in 8 county schools.