Wouldn’t it be great to have our kids chow down on apples or carrots with as much enthusiasm as chocolate and ice cream?  The sad truth is that there are loads of kids who would actually like to crunch into some fresh fruits and vegetables but don’t have access to them — especially in their schools.

Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools is looking to change all this.  It’s no surprise research has shown that school kids eat more fruits and veggies when given choices via a school salad bar.  And the health benefits are well known — setting up a lifetime of better snack and meal choices.  The goal of this grassroots public health effort is to fund and award 6,000 salad bars in schools over the next three years.  The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity has endorsed schools using salad bars and upgrading cafeteria equipment to provide healthier choices for kids.

How can you become involved?  If you are a K-12 school district participating in the National School Lunch Program, you are eligible to fill out an application to add a salad bar to your school lunch line.  Once your application is approved for funding, you get a salad bar webpage for your district or school.  The Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative and your community raise funds for your salad bars.  Once funded, your salad bar equipment is ordered for shipment, and your school kids eat more fruits and vegetables!

Individuals can also make donations via the website to support one of the hundreds of schools listed in need of funds.  Or you can choose to donate to the general fund which will support schools who have approved applications.

As your packing your kids’ lunches, take a minute to think about the children who rely on their school lunch programs for healthy choices.  This is one way you can help other kids get in line for better health and good choices for their future!

© YesKidzCan!, 2011