Hands-on Veggie Cooking Kits a Part of a New Initiative in Georgia to encourage Healthy Eating Habits
Children reflect on fruits and veggies with the new Small Bites Adventure Club “Meet the Farmer” videos.
Small Bites Adventure Club is teaming up with the American Heart Association in an initiative that enables Georgia children to prepare and taste fruits and vegetables in the classroom.
Pilot schools in a Georgia school district will be selected to receive four months of Small Bites Adventure Club in the Fall of 2023. These kits will feature kid-approved veggie forward recipes, like Crazy Carrots with Groovy Green Goodness Dip and Super Power Kale Pesto. Not only are these recipes easy to make and delicious - they meet Partnership for a Healthier America’s ‘Veggies Early & Often’ nutritional criteria, which are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
“Our goal is to get children excited about fruits and vegetables so they are more likely to consume them because healthy diets support healthy hearts.”
The American Heart Association and Small Bites Adventure Club will engage teachers and parents in building connections between trying healthy foods in the classroom and eating healthy foods in the school cafeteria.
“Children can absolutely learn to love vegetables – especially when they are given the opportunity to create and try them through hands-on cooking with their peers in classroom settings,” shares Erin Croom, CEO and founder of Small Bites Adventure Club. “Our goal is to get children to the starting line and to increase their comfort with new foods. So, by the time they are offered these foods at meal time- they are excited to eat them. “
Children across age groups should consume, at minimum, two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily. The 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health found that 1 in 3 children do not eat fruit daily and 1 in 2 children do not eat vegetables daily (CDC, 2023).
“School nutrition programs participating in the USDA National School Lunch Program are working diligently to serve fruits and vegetables,” says Laura Bracci, government relations director from the American Heart Association.”Our goal is to get children excited about fruits and vegetables so they are more likely to consume them because healthy diets support healthy hearts.”
If your Georgia school district is interested in participating, complete an interest form here by June 15, 2023.
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Small Bites Adventure Club is a social impact venture based in Atlanta, GA with a mission to help children discover, eat and love fruits and vegetables. Small Bites Adventure Club creates turnkey food education resources for childcare, after school program and PreK- 5th grade educators. To date, Small Bites Adventure Club has reached over 330 schools, child care and afterschool programs and served over 128,400 bites of fruits and veggies to children. Connect with us on Instagram!
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.