Published: September 27, 2008 12:47 am      

Edmond schools use salad bars, Farm to School program to urge nutrition

EDMOND — EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of three

articles in the series “Obesity: Problem growing

one pound at a time.”

Next Saturday experts will offer tips on how parents can get their children more interested in physical activity.



From the first bite of breakfast in the morning to that last snack in the evening, adults and children alike are bombarded with food.

Food is put in front of us whether on the table, in commercials, on packaging or in signs. Each of these things all help food surround us in our daily lives.

Environment has been shown to weigh in heavily on the obesity epidemic in Oklahoma.

In a report released by Integris Hospital, experts said they believe America needs to agree obesity is an epidemic resulting from external forces — our environment. It cannot be the result of a “sudden upsurge in moral failure,” nor a change in our gene pool.

With September named National Fruits and Veggies — More Matters Month, parents are urged to let their children have a more active role in deciding what they eat as parents help them choose more nutritious items for their meals.

“Parents have a tremendous influence on their children,” said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation, the nonprofit entity behind the Fruits and Veggies — More Matters national public health initiative.

“Taking a little extra time at the grocery store to interact with kids and single out fruits and vegetables as important could make those kids more willing to give healthy fruits and veggies another try.”

Edmond schools are doing their part as they incorporate the Farm to School program, said Amy Herrold, child nutrition assistant supervisor.

Although the schools were not able to use as many of the products from local farmers as they had planned, Herrold said they were able to use cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon.

“We plan to add more items each semester,” Herrold said, “and I heard we will be getting in cucumbers.”

Herrold said many of the cafeteria managers are highly motivated to get the students to try different items. She said lunch may be the only healthy meal some students will eat during the day.

“Children are attracted to color,” Herrold said, “and sometimes it takes more than one try to get our students to try something. “Kids are slow to adopt new foods.”

Herrold said they have found the students take to fresh fruit better than canned.

“We think it is worth it when the food doesn’t go in the trash.”

If the fruit is expensive one day, then Herrold said they look at a cheaper entree.

Although salad bars are not offered daily at all of the schools, they are offered daily at all of the high schools, and at different times at the elementary schools and one middle school. Herrold said they are working on salad bars at the remaining middle schools in the near future.

Salad bars offer a variety of foods which are alternated, including chick peas, kidney beans, sunflower seeds and granola.

“Our potato bars also have broccoli with cheese sauce, salsa, ham and cheese or plain cheese sauce,” Herrold added.

She said the students prefer canned green beans, corn and mixed veggies are frozen and of the highest quality.

Sue Enterline, cafeteria manager at Centennial said her school has joined others around the district with offering extra drinks with lunch meals each day.

“Many of our students come to lunch directly from recess and are really thirsty,” Enterline said. “Since we have made it possible for the children to have an extra water, juice or milk for an addition 40 cents we have been selling more than 200 drinks each day.”

The schools go by guidelines set by the United States Department of Agriculture.

“Within those guidelines we can play with what we want to serve,” Herrold said. “We try to serve nutritious meals and still have a kid-friendly menu. We are committed to providing the most nutritious lunch we can.”