CEOGC News: Head Start Students Learn Nutrition from the Ground Up
Posted: Tue, Mar 30, 2010
CEOGC Head Start Students Learn “Nutrition from the Ground Up” The Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland’s (CEOGC) Head Start Program is teaming up with Cuyahoga County’s WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program to celebrate National Nutrition Month. “Nutrition from the Ground Up” is providing 1,480 3 to 5 year old Head Start students throughout Cuyahoga County with a hands-on opportunity to learn about healthy eating habits by growing their own food.
On March 31st, students at the Louis Stokes Head Start Center (4075 East 173rd Street, Cleveland) were visited by WIC staff who read “I Will Never, Not Ever, Eat A Tomato” by Lauren Child to the class, then sit down with the students to plant their own seeds in their own cups so they can watch them grow over the next several weeks. Then the WIC staff helped the children write a “Thank You” note to whoever does the cooking in their home.
“Promoting good nutrition is a major focus in Head Start,” says Mary Lou McManus, CEOGC Head Start Nutrition Coordinator. “This collaboration with WIC was a wonderful opportunity to highlight childhood nutrition as being integral to good health. The children’s awareness of foods, especially fruits and vegetables, at this early age, gives them a head start on healthy eating.”
Jiffy Products of America also partnered in this effort, donating 3,000 Jiffy soil pellets for the students to plant their vegetable seeds.