Nutrition Program Spotlight: Pick a Better Snack
Healthy eating habits start young, and our Pick a Better Snack Program is making a significant impact by introducing school-aged children to a variety of fruits and vegetables. The program, designed for kindergarten through 5th grade, provides children with the opportunity to explore new foods, learn about their nutritional benefits, and develop healthier dietary habits that last.
Every month, the Food Bank employees on the nutrition team visit participating schools, alternating between teaching about fruits and vegetables. They teach students about how to pick, store, and wash the produce properly along with fun facts, and nutritional benefits of the fruit or vegetable.
To make the experience engaging, children sample the featured food, and if they try it, they receive a sticker as a reward. This sticker serves as a fun incentive and a helpful reminder for parents when grocery shopping. Many students have excitedly shared how they encouraged their parents to buy the foods they tried at school.
The program’s goal is to encourage healthier snack choices, reducing children’s intake of junk food while promoting better lifelong eating habits.
“It’s harder for adults to establish healthier habits, so if they are introduced to them now, they are more likely to continue these habits into adulthood,” said Kyra Muse, Nutrition Services Manager.
By familiarizing students with different produce items early on, Pick a Better Snack helps decrease childhood obesity rates and lowers the risk of chronic diseases later in life.
Recently, the nutrition team has introduced activity months to reinforce nutrition lessons with movement-based games. These include:
- Ships and Sailors Game: Students run to different sides of the gym based on whether the named food is a fruit or vegetable.
- Hot Potato with a Beach Ball: Kids toss the ball and name a fruit or vegetable of a certain color, reinforcing memory and learning.
These activities not only make learning fun but also emphasize the importance of physical activity alongside a nutritious diet.
Through hands-on learning, interactive games, and real-life applications, Pick a Better Snack is encouraging children to make healthier choices that they can carry with them for years to come. With nearly 4,855 children reached in February alone, the program continues to grow and make a lasting impact in schools in our community.
BASF’s Commitment to Fighting Hunger
