National Nutrition Month 2015

This week we begin a series of National Nutrition Month celebrations with an event at each of our bronze award winning HealthierUS Schools Challenge schools:

Arthur D. Healey School
Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School
East Somerville Community School
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
West Somerville Neighborhood School
Winter Hill Community Innovation School

National Nutrition Month, celebrated annually in March, is a campaign brought to us by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The theme for 2015 is "Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle," which encourages students and families to make informed choices about food choices and daily exercise.

Here in Somerville, our schools are celebrating with a cafeteria taste test! We will be sampling a "Go Snack & Salad." "Go Snacks and Salads" are snacks or salads that contain red, yellow and green (colors in a traffic light). When you see these three colors together on your plate, you know that you have created a healthy, nutrient packed meal.

Hummus with pita and vegetables

Broccoli, cucumbers, and tomatoes topped with a three bean salad and cheese.

Examples of other "Go Snacks and Salads" are

1. Mango, Strawberry, Spinach Salad

2. Edemame Chickpea Salad (recipe coming soon)

3. Citrus Avocado Salad

4. Tomato Cucumber Quinoa Feta Salad

5. Sweet Potato Pomegranate

Meat, nuts, grains and cheese can be added to these to increase the nutritional value.

Many of these salads and snacks can be made from ingredients found on our school salad bars.

Winter Hill Salad Bar

Each student will receive an issue of ChopChop magazine and an event newsletter with our Savory Yogurt Dip recipe.

Check back in with us for taste test results and a recipe for our Veggie Yogurt Dip!

Content provided by Karyn Novakowski, PEP Grant Nutrition Education Coordinator. Photos courtesy of Lesley Schmille, Framingham State University Nutrition Intern.

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