Blimps, Bell Peppers, and Big Smiles

We recently wrapped up the Eat a Rainbow Farmers Market for the 2024-2025 school year with a special visit to our friends at Vegas Verdes Elementary School; and boy was it a good one to end the school on!

First the Lesson

The entire first grade received our 30 minute nutrition-education lesson which teaches students the importance of eating a rainbow of vegetables every day. A highlight of the lesson is a tasting where our lead educator, Crystal Momii, teaches the students how to taste fruits and vegetables and analyze them utilizing all five senses. The tasting is always a hit and at this school one kid even said “Can I eat the rest?” Well of course we said yes! 

Ms. Momii always tells the kids to “take a mouse sized bite”.

Welcome to the Eat a Rainbow Farmer’s Market

Once they were done with the tasting, the kids were led to a special Farmers Market. Normally we host the Farmers Market in the school cafeteria along with the class, but Vegas Verdes had a special area near their school garden that was perfect for hosting an outdoor Farmers Market! This also led to a unique opportunity to see something we don’t get to see everyday… The Goodyear blimp! Sure it may have been in town for Wrestlemania, but the kids enjoyed the opportunity to see it all the same. 

In addition to the Goodyear blimp, students were greeted by volunteers from our friends at MGM Resorts International who helped them pick out produce from each color of the rainbow to take home. 

What’s in the Bag

Students went home with the spinach, arugula and cara cara oranges featured in the in-class tasting so they can repeat the tasting at home with their parents. Additionally, they received produce from each color of the rainbow including: Red – Grape Tomatoes, Orange – Carrots, Yellow – Yellow Bell Pepper, Green – Avocados, Blue – Canned Blueberries, Purple – Purple Potatoes, White – Onion, and we also added a croissant as healthy grain option.

Once filled, the bags can be quite heavy, and one kid commented “I’m so strong!” because he could hold the bag up all by himself. 

The Impact

With the Eat a Rainbow Farmers Market, our whole goal is to provide students with access to, and encourage more consumption of, fresh fruits and vegetables. So it was heartwarming to hear that one of the first graders who visited the farmers market in the morning was eating a whole bell pepper from the market for lunch. We love hearing stories like this! 

Looking to the Future

While we’re sad to say goodbye to the kids for the summer, we’re looking forward to what’s in store for the next school year. In addition to hosting our Eat a Rainbow Farmers Market, which targets kids in grades K-2, we’re making plans to launch a similar Farmers Market geared towards middle school students. Since they are older, many of these students are responsible for cooking meals for their siblings or family members at home. We’re aiming to arm them with best practices for healthy cooking and provide them with an easy-to-cook meal to take home. 

If you’d like what you’re reading and want to see more programs like these, please make a donation in any amount. Every bit helps us feed and educate a child.