Highland Elementary gets lunch grant

Highland Elementary students will soon have no trouble getting their five-a-day, every school day, thanks to a $17,000 healthy eating grant.

The federal grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, aims to encourage students to eat more fruits and veggies.

Doled out to 25 schools across the state, Highland was the only Northwest suburban school to receive a grant. More than 50 Illinois schools applied.

Schools were chosen for the program based on the number of free and reduced price lunches and the percentage of low income and minority students.

According to 2006-07 state report cards, more than 80 percent of Highland's 550 students are minority students, a majority of them qualifying for subsidized meals.

Highland Principal Steve Johnson hopes the grant will complement a number of other health initiatives at the school, including a daily exercise program for students and family nights that give tips on making healthy snacks and meals.

Highland, along with other Elgin Area School District U-46 schools, also participates in Activate Elgin, a citywide effort to improve the health and well-being of the community.

"We're lucky," Johnson said. "We have a fantastic PE teacher, Pam Graff. She also works with the Elgin YMCA, and teaches some fitness classes."

Graff has taught fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders five-minute exercises to use in the classroom, and encourages them to go home and practice with their families, Johnson said.

The healthy eating grant stipulates that produce purchased cannot be used to replace fruits or vegetables already being served to students during school breakfasts or lunches.

Most vegetables served with U-46 meals are cooked, losing some of their nutritional value, Johnson said.

To some degree, Highland already has begun incorporating fresh fruit into their breakfasts and lunches. The new grant will add to that, Johnson said.

"Many of our families are struggling," Johnson said. "But this year, with the price of food, especially the price of fruit and vegetables, that's going to impact families."

"I think," he said, "as food bills are impacted, and families can offer less and less, this is going to be very important."