School Nutrition Education Just Got Easier with Eat a Rainbow Project
| March 18, 2015 | Posted by Stacy under Eat a Rainbow, Food education |
Today, my kids’ elementary school is hosting its third annual Rainbow Day, a school-wide event designed to teach kids the benefits (and fun!) of eating a variety of colorful fruits and veggies. Since it started three years ago, it’s been a big hit with children, teachers and parents alike. Their favorite part? The Rainbow Smoothies made by a group of volunteers for all students and staff. The kids love them, and their parents are often shocked that they devoured a drink made with spinach, carrots and fresh fruit.
In addition to the smoothies, students get classroom lessons all about eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. Parents are challenged to pack a lunch containing all the colors of the rainbow. For kids purchasing school lunch, the cafeteria puts together a rainbow salad bar. Each grade is assigned to wear a different color. Even our school principal gets into the act by wearing a rainbow wig or tie.
Eat A Rainbow Project
After reading about our school Rainbow Day, I was contacted by Kia Robertson of the award-winning nutrition game Today I Ate a Rainbow. She wanted to make it easy for educators and parents to teach the concept of eating from the rainbow. So, with some help from me, she created Eat A Rainbow Project, a website filled with free information, materials, downloads, videos, and links. From rainbow-themed lessons and snacks to books and songs, it’s a one-stop resource for bringing colorful food education to life.
Teaching kids to eat a rainbow is a great way to encourage them to consume a variety of colorful fruits and veggies beneficial to their health. Eating a rainbow of naturally occurring colors helps ensure that their bodies get a broad range of nutrients, and is a simple and fun guideline that can help educate and inspire them to make healthy choices. I hope you love Eat A Rainbow Project as much as I do. Together, we can get kids eating, feeling and learning better, one rainbow at a time!
Does your school have a fun way of teaching kids about nutrition? If so, I’d love to hear! Please share in the comments section below.
I created this blog to raise awareness and start a dialogue about the various issues involved in school food. By writing about it, I hope to provide parents and educators with ideas and inspiration for making healthy changes in their own schools. Since healthy eating habits start at home, I also address common feeding challenges faced by parents.
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