Just this past Saturday on April 11th, Pasco County Schools hosted its first ever Health and Fitness Fair. Dozens of vendors provided information on health services and the 5K walk/run was a fitness activity the entire family could take part in. The tastiest part of the day’s festivities was the Student Taste Plate. It was held in the cafeteria at Sunlake High School and was organized by Sarah Wood and Stephanie Spicknall. Wood and Spicknall are both Registered Dietitians of Food and Nutrition Services, the department who oversees the operation of the school meals program for Pasco County Schools.
Students and their parents were able to sample nearly 20 different items from various school food service companies like Kellogg’s and General Mills. After samples were tasted, the voting began. Taste testers provided feedback on iPads docked to tables throughout the cafeteria. This feedback was gathered so that the taste preferences of students could inform the selection of new menu items for next school year.
Fresh for Florida Kids Chef Paula Kendrick sampled fresh fruit and vegetable recipes at the Student Taste Plate.
Taste testers also had the opportunity to sample fresh fruit and vegetable recipes prepared by Chef Paula, who serves as the Food, Nutrition and Wellness Division Chef of the Florida Department of Agriculture. The recipes included Blueberry and Yogurt Breakfast Cups, a Marinated Carrot and Cucumber Salad, Grape Tomatoes with Spinach Arugula Pesto, a Cantaloupe Smoothie and Corn and Potato Salad. It seemed the Blueberry and Yogurt Breakfast Cups was a favorite among students.
Fresh fruit and vegetable recipes prepared by Chef Paula. From left to right: Blueberry and Yogurt Breakfast Cups, Corn and Potato Salad, Grapes Tomatoes with Spinach Arugula Pesto, Marinated Carrot and Cucumber Salad and Cantaloupe Smoothie.
To learn more about what it means to be Fresh for Florida Kids, visit the Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness’ website.
Guest Blogger: Raneitra Grover, MPH, Team Nutrition Coordinator, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
