Grant To Improve Nutrition At Wolf Point Schools

Last week, many of Wolf Point’s students were fortunate enough to have more fruits and vegetables be added to their diets.

The Wolf Point School District was one of the recipients in the state to receive a grant from the fresh fruit and vegetable program.

“It’s based for students who don’t have access to fresh produce,” Liz Solberg, the nutritionist for the Wolf Point School District, said. “We try to get produce that they haven’t had before.”

The grant included $22,810 for Southside Elementary School students and $13,443 for Northside Elementary School students.

Goals of the fresh fruit and vegetable program include:

•Create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices.

•Expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience.

•Increase children’s fruits and vegetable consumption.

•Create an opportunity to provide nutrition education.

•Positively influence children’s lifelong eating habits.

Solberg explains her responsibilities include putting the menu together and getting the food to the schools.

“It’s up to the staff to educate the students,” she said. Each instructor is to provide an educational lecture based on a facts sheet.

Solberg hopes to have students plant their own vegetables at the high school’s greenhouse in the future.

After receiving the news about receiving the grant, Solberg quickly constructed menus for the next week.

“I wanted to get it out as quick as possible because kids are hungry,” she said.

Items during the first week included a tropical fruit blend of dragon fruit, mango, honeydew, oranges and pineapples. Other selections were carroteenies, bananas, avocados, grape escapes and sugar snap peas.

“I hope the staff and kids have fun with it,” Solberg said.