Ringwood students enjoy fresh produce

From the Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Ringwood students enjoy fresh produce
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

RINGWOOD – Every day, Denise Egebrecht tries to include a fresh fruit or vegetable in the lunches she packs for her daughter, Jacqueline, a second-grader at Ringwood Elementary School.

But with the help of a federal grant awarded to the school, Egebrecht isn't the only one encouraging her daughter to practice healthy eating.

The school was awarded $30,000 as part of the federally funded Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program. The grant is intended to make fresh produce available to students at any time throughout the school day.

Ringwood School Primary Center is the only school in McHenry County to receive the grant, and one of 25 schools statewide.

Since the start of the school year, Ringwood's 600 pre-school through second-grade students have been treated to a free fresh fruit or vegetable snack every day.

"We're making them aware of what they're putting in their bodies," said Anna Wolk, kitchen manager. "I think we're going to see this generation grow up and have better health."

Wolk said that as she's coordinated the school lunch program, she's often wished she could do more than just tell students to eat better. She already leads nutrition-oriented activities but wanted to do more. This grant was an opportunity to do just that, she said.

"We gotta do more than just lip service," she said.

Every day, a designated student representative brings a shopping basket to the kitchen to pick up the healthy snacks. The snacks range from carrots and celery to bananas and apples. Students also can pick up fresh produce at any time of the day from a cart near the front office and a bistro set in one of the hallways.

Ringwood Elementary Principal Cathy Neiss said that beyond helping students eat healthier, the program has positively affected student behavior and cooperation.

"Lots of things we didn't' think of have come up," Neiss said. She said teachers have used the program to integrate other lessons into their classrooms, such as where apples come from.

About 17 percent of children are overweight, according to a study published in 2006 by the American Medical Association. That number has steadily increased over the years, and is mirrored by a growing number of overweight parents.

Wolk said she hoped healthy eating lessons students learn would travel home, too.

"If you make kids think out of the box, they'll go home and discuss it," she said.

So far, parents have given the program positive reviews.

"We're really happy about it," Egebrecht said. "[Jacqueline] likes it a lot."