Free Fruit Friday
Written by Joanne on April 24, 2010 – -Remember the days when milk was distributed free to children in schools? (Actually, that was well before my time, but I know it used to happen in some countries!) Thank goodness that scheme went the way of the dinosaurs, especially now that we know many children have sensitivities to pasteurized cow’s milk.
Well, here in Australia, the Victorian government has come up with a far-healthier scheme for schools – children in lower primary school grades can receive free fruit on Fridays!
The Free Fruit Friday scheme is fairly new to Victoria – it’s only been around for a couple of years, and my children’s school started it this year. Each child is allocated 70c worth of fruit, and it’s distributed on Fridays.
As it happens, I help out in my children’s classrooms on Fridays, so I’m there for the distribution of fruit. A local fruit shop (how great to support local businesses) supplies boxes of fruit, with the fruit already divided equally between the boxes. Parent helpers grab a box of the fresh, glowing seasonal fruit, and take it back to the classrooms for washing. There’s a lot of parental involvement at our school, which really helps the teachers.
After washing the fruit, it’s placed on a platter lined with a teatowel (see the picture of this week’s offerings!), so that it can be left to dry before kids “dive in” at “brainfood” time.
In my girls’ classrooms, this has been an absolute hit. The children love biting into fresh, juicy fruit, and there’s often plenty enough for each child to have two pieces. I just love seeing everyone enjoying the fruit, and imagine all the life force and vitamins zinging around their little bodies.
Does your school have a scheme like this? If you’d like more information, head here. If you don’t have anything like this in your local area, why not suggest it to your local, county, state, or national governmental body?
Wouldn’t it be great if every government on the planet took up an initiative like this?
Love Raw Mom Jo
PS For ideas on how kids can make the most of fresh, raw fruit, check out my recipe e-book for kids: Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Kitchen: An Un-Cookbook for Kids!. (I still can’t believe that it’s the first-ever raw-food recipe book written just for children!)
Tags: Callanetics, getting off psychiatric drugs and medication, natural diet, Raw Food Health
Posted in Raw Food for Kids, Raw Food for Women, Raw Food Health | 7 Comments »
By Tera on Apr 24, 2010
Wow!!! Jo, I am TOTALLY inspired by this post. I love it, I love it, I looooove it.
Okay, so now the big question is, what will it take to get more schools doing something like this. I really hope you’ll keep us posted and inspired about projects like this! Little changes CAN make a big difference! YAY!!
Love,
Tera
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By Shawna on Apr 26, 2010
That’s awesome. My 2 girls have 16 food sensitivites and my oldest daughters teacher in pre-school is horrible when it comes to nutrition. Once a week they have pancake day with maple syrup, chocolate syrup and icing sugar. Once a month they have pizza day, and everytime a child has a Birthday they have cupcakes…junk junk junk! It makes me crazy! The teacher even brings in boxes of cookies regularly for all the kids…what is that?
I’ve come to realize all there food issues are the biggest blessing they’ve ever had!
I’ll be aproaching Kindergarten in the fall with this wonderful idea!
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By Summer on Apr 26, 2010
That is awesome! I wish schools everywhere would do something like that. It’s been a while since I was in school, and mine don’t go, but I rarely remember seeing fresh fruit and vegetables in the lunch room.
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By Doris Paxton on Apr 26, 2010
What a noble response to, “But what can I do?”
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By Joanne on Apr 27, 2010
Hi everyone – thank you for your lovely comments. I’m so pleased that this scheme has started at our school this year – but we still have an ‘ice cream sundae’ day once a term (four times a year). Not ideal, but I guess it is only four times a year.
Shawna, I can’t believe your child’s teacher serves up sugar-coated pancakes every week! Maybe you could suggest that she alternates it with a fruit salad with yogurt and honey every now and then? Do you think she’d take it well?
Readers, if this post inspires you, maybe you could forward your local government a link to the Victorian government website, with a request for this sort of scheme to be trialled/instigated at your local schools? Maybe getting media publicity would help, too?
I think things could be changing, slowly!
Love Raw Mom Jo
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By jean on Apr 28, 2010
This is incredible and just what World Wellness Education is about. Check out our website and see if you can help make more things like this happen.
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By Joanne on May 4, 2010
Hi Jean! Wow – your World Wellness Education website is phenomenal. What a great idea. I love that we can all come together to effect positive change.
Joanne
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