Some suburban schools get cash for serving up healthy snacks

Two years ago, Elgin students didn't exactly dig into the red cabbage and pomegranate when it was served up at Highland Elementary School.

But last year was different, said Jan Flentge, the school's lead lunch supervisor.

"They were much braver last year," Flentge said. "Pretty soon they were tasting different fruits and vegetables before we even told them what they were eating."

Highland is one of about 10 suburban schools in Elgin, Wheeling and Carpentersville to get money from the federally funded Illinois Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the 2010-11 school year. In total, $3.3 million was passed out to 188 Illinois schools.

More than 360 schools applied for the grant, said State Board of Education Spokeswoman Mary Fergus.

"Schools can implement this program any way they want," Fergus said. "Some schools have bowls of apples in their classrooms. Some serve fruit plates. The idea is to make fruit and vegetables a regular part of everyday life."

School participating in the program will get $50 to $75 per student. The money can be used to buy fruit and vegetable snacks, but can't be used to supplement lunch and breakfast meals, which are funded separately.

Some schools like Highland have gotten the money in the past. However the program will be new to Carpentersville's Community Unit District 300, which has five elementary schools participating for the first time this year, said Eric Knutson, District 300's grant specialist.

District 300 will get an additional $175,000 to $225,000 and officials plan to buy "exotic snacks" kids might mpt be exposed to at home, Knutson said.

"We're trying to go beyond apples, bananas and carrots," he said. "We'll be serving items like blackberries and brussels sprouts."

And so far so good. District 300 kids seems to be enjoying the new healthy snacks, Knutson said.

At Highland Elementary School, kids can bring their own snack if they want, but more than 90 percent choose the fruit or vegetable open, said Steve Johnson, the school's principal.

Flentge talks about the fruit or vegetable of the day during the morning announcements, describing what it will taste like and how many calories it has.

"These kids have tried every vegetable out there from rutabaga, turnips, beets, you name it," she said.