The “Let's Move Salad Bars to Midwest Schools” campaign is gaining attention in Michigan
The Michigan Department of Education encourages school food service directors to apply for salad donations for school meal programs.
Does your child have a salad bar at their school? If not, a program supported by the Centers for Disease Control and the United Fresh Foundation may be of interest to you. The goal of “Let's Move Salad Bars to Midwest Schools” is to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among children, according to information published in www.saladbars2schools.org. This campaign showcases that private donors have enabled them to purchase and donate salads to more than 400 Midwest schools over the past three years.
Schools must apply for this program to receive a Cambro 72-inch insulated 5-well portable salad bowl with pans and covers, cooling pads, serving tongs and spoons. A refrigeration unit is also available if required by the regional or local health department. You can find a detailed guide produced by the campaign about the regulations, how to store and preserve the salad here. This document should be reviewed before applying for a salad.
Photo: Amy Klinkoski of Grand Rapids Public Schools Nutrition Services
To be eligible, schools must participate in the National School Meal Program. The School Food Service Director/Child Nutrition Director and the Superintendent must submit the online application. The application is located at www.saladbars2schools.org. Some research findings have shown that school salads increase fruit and vegetable consumption by students. Increased fruit and vegetable consumption provides students with nutrients their bodies need to grow and thrive.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is working to gather local funding support and spread the word about the program. MDE's Diane Golzynski says, “I hope many schools apply because the greater the demand, the more successful our fundraising efforts will be.”
The Community Food Systems Working Group in Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Department of Education also see the salads as an opportunity for schools to purchase and offer local fruits and vegetables to students. Local greens are available almost year-round in many places in Michigan. When offered fresh on a salad bar, local fruits and vegetables can be low consumption options. The Michigan Farm-to-School The program website offers a shopping guide to help schools source local produce, which is beneficial to communities and schools.
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