School Cafeteria Partners with Local Grower Foundation to Support School Salad Bar

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Students in the Sunnyslope school in Hollister School District within Hollister, Calif. (65% Latino) were introduced to a fresh school salad bar yesterday as a new partnership blossomed.

Sunnyslope school the Hollister School District will now get to enjoy fresh local grown produce from the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation as a partnership between the district and the Grower-Shipper’s Foundation are working together to fight against childhood obesity in the school environment through giving more kids access to fresh vegetables in local schools.

“It is an amazing sight to not only see the students excited about salad but also enjoying it as a healthy lunch option,” Joe Rivas, Sunnyslope’s principal told local news source BenitoLink.

It’s true, Latino-majority schools often see fewer fruits and vegetables offered in their schools according to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention report.

A parent from the school also explained to local news that she believed the partnership was great for students because it not only gave her daughter vegetable options but also promoted fruit options.

Parents hope that all students in different schools within the district will get to enjoy salad bars in their schools.

The salad bars also help decrease food and package waste explained Erika Vallin, from the local Public Health Department, stating that after measuring the installment of the salad bar is helping to save more than 51 pounds of package waste per day.

Studies show that Latino-majority schools tend to have weaker policies regarding school snacks and drinks, and may be less likely to implement nutritional guidelines.

All students need healthier school lunch options where healthier foods like fruits and vegetables are offered daily in schools and helping positively influence body mass index and health outcomes for Latino kids.

To see how some Latino-majority schools changed their food options for healthier school foods, read about how Derek Dimas, a local nurse changed school snacks with making fruit fun!

There are also even more encouraging stories too on healthier school food ideas, see them all here!