The makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings have announced the fourth annual Love Your Veggies™ grant program, an initiative that will provide $10,000 grants to 10 public elementary schools in the United States to support increased access to and consumption of fresh produce during school meals. The Love Your Veggies™ grant program is sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings in partnership with School Nutrition Foundation (SNF). Visit www.LoveYourVeggies.com for complete information, including the 2009 application.
Now in its fourth consecutive year, the Hidden Valley® Love Your Veggies™ grant program has awarded $750,000 to elementary schools throughout the country for the implementation of fresh fruit and vegetable programs. Schools can apply for a grant through Nov. 6, 2009 by visiting LoveYourVeggies.com. Schools will be notified of their award status by Feb. 15, 2010. A public announcement of all 10 winners will be made in April 2010.
Why "Love Your Veggies"?
The makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings know that getting children to eat more vegetables is a concern for many parents, and studies show that about 96 percent of children two to 12 years of age fall short of the recommended 2-5 cups of fruits and vegetables per day. Findings from the following studies further inspired the development of the program:
The Relevance of Ranch: A study that found children tend to consume more vegetables when paired with a moderate amount of ranch dressing. Another study suggested that consuming a moderate amount of fat with vegetables/salads may be beneficial to the body’s ability to adequately absorb fat-soluble nutrients.
Getting Kids Involved in the Process: In a study of 600 school-aged children taking part in a nutrition curriculum intended to increase vegetables and whole grains consumption researchers at Teachers College at Columbia University found that children who helped cook their own foods were more likely to eat those foods in the cafeteria, and even ask for seconds.
Making Veggie Eating Fun at Home: Parents participating in a home-based intervention program about fruits and vegetables led to increased knowledge and availability of both in the home, which was in turn a significant predictor of their children’s increased consumption.
Making a Difference in the Lunchroom with a grant program: The 2004 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act required school districts to design and implement local school wellness policies. There is an overwhelming shortage of funds available for the execution of these programs and schools struggle to implement them successfully.
Source: School Nutrition Association
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