Last month, schools all across the nation celebrated National School Lunch Week, honoring the importance of healthy meals to education. I was able to join in one of these celebrations right here in the national Capital area, and the great things I saw at Takoma Park (Md.) Middle School are still fresh in my mind.
I was already aware of the commitment that the Division of Nutrition and Food Services of Montgomery County Public Schools has made to serving healthy meals, as well some of the important strides they have taken across this large district. But on this trip, I wanted to see first-hand how Takoma Park Principal Alicia Teeny and her teaching staff connect children in the classroom to healthy food choices.
I didn’t have to look far. In an eighth grade Family and Consumer Science class, students were busy examining the nutritional value of orange juice. I spoke briefly with these inspiring young minds and applauded their eagerness to learn about food packaging and labeling. I also took the opportunity to discuss ways they can help their families make educated choices at the supermarket. My next stop was a classroom where seventh graders were learning hydroponics and how new technologies can supplement traditional growing methods.
One of my favorite parts of the visit was the school garden, maintained with great care by the student horticultural club. There, an enterprising eighth grader explained how the garden helps students learn about earth science. With the garden, students are learning how to grow food, and the importance of sun, water, fertilizer, and soil. Most importantly, they are developing a real connection to food that our society seems to have lost in our modern lifestyle. One student picked a big green zucchini for me to take home, obviously—and rightfully—very proud of the horticultural club’s bounty.
I eventually made my way to the cafeteria where I saw students helping themselves to a healthy salad bar. I joined them for a nutritious meal and we talked about the wide variety of healthy foods being offered every day. It’s schools like these – with their greenhouses and hydroponics instruction and classes that encourage nutritious choices – that I enjoy visiting so much. Understanding how food is grown and learning to make healthy food choices is a wonderful benefit to traditional classroom instruction that carries a lifelong benefit to the students.