An Array of Resources

Module 2: A Rainbow of Seasonal Choices

Choices, Changes, and Considerations

How to Begin Planning for More Produce at Breakfast?
Download beginplanning.pdf
Make use of this self assessment to assist with analyzing your site's produce needs and capacity to begin planning for menus that offer more seasonal produce at breakfast time.

Solve the Seasonal Mystery

Tips on When to Purchase Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables
Download purchasefruits.pdf
Use these tips as a reminder to stay on top of purchasing needs for best fresh produce.

It Takes Two

Cheat Sheet for Commonly Used Produce Items by Purchase Unit and Standard Packs
Download cheatsheet.pdf
Simplify ordering considerations by referring to this useful guide on produce details, such as food as it is purchased and how it is to be served, plus serving per unit (in varying amounts: 1/8, 1/4, or 1/2 cup), purchase unit (standard pack), and servings per purchase unit.

Module 3: Shining Ideas from the Kitchen

Back-of-the-House Basics

Tips for Receiving, Storing, and Preparation
Download tipsforreceiving.pdf
Follow these tips to ensure freshness and efficiency regarding use of seasonal produce.

Receive and Store More!

Buying Fresh Produce: Quality Resource for Quality Meals
Download buyingproduce.pdf
This resource provides a user-friendly list of produce that can be ethylene producers or ethylene sensitive to assist with ensuring adequate storage and quality for all fruits and vegetables.

Silver Platter Service

Do You Have Fla
Download doyouhaveflair.pdf
This resource offers suggestions to make fruits and vegetables more appealing when serving and displaying them in meal programs. Have students “grade” you with this assessment.

Module 4: A Fresh Look at Promotions and Merchandising

An Array of Promotions

An Array of Promotions
Download arraypromotions.pdf
Use this checklist to consider more opportunities for promoting fresh fruits and vegetables in breakfast choices for students.

Getting Buy-in

Tips for Getting Buy In - Promotions
Download promotiontips.pdf
Encourage student participation in spreading the word about including more fruits and vegetables in meal choices.

Tips for Getting Buy In - Outreach and Training
Download outreachtips.pdf
Create a variety of learning opportunities for staff at all levels on campus.

Tips for Getting Buy In - Inclusive Planning
Download planningtips.pdf
Seek out ways to get everyone (students, parents, staff, community members) involved in knowing the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Tips for Getting Buy In - Role Modeling or Mentoring
Download rolemodeltips.pdf
Provide positive examples that encourage individuals at all levels to make healthy choices.

An Array of Resources by Topic

Annual Activities and Events

Family and Consumer Sciences Health Fair Planning Guide
This Web site offers a comprehensive guide to planning and carrying out a successful health fair, including a time table with related activities.

Fruits and Veggies - More Matters
Take advantage of the many family-friendly resources provided to help plan events on eating more fruits and vegetables at each meal.

National School Breakfast Week
Download useful resources with ideas and information to engage students in fun activities for breakfast week.

New London Food Service Fruit and Vegetable of the Month
Read about ideas and activities used to promote different fruits and vegetables each month throughout the school year.

Power Panther
Use the health fair planning kit to organize school-wide activities that encourage healthy eating and active lifestyles.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Monthly Features
This practical monthly packet available online includes nutrition and physical activity handouts and press releases with timely, pertinent information.

Community Involvement

Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens
The Center for Urban Agriculture is an internationally respected model for small-scale urban food production, agricultural preservation, and farm-based education.

Champions for Change - Network for a Healthy California
The Network consists of a multidisciplinary group of professionals who conduct nutrition education and physical activity projects in low-income communities to promote healthy eating and activity patterns.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service Team Nutrition
Team Nutrition provides a comprehensive plan on community support, nutrition education, and training or technical assistance for planning and preparing healthy school meals.

Urban and Environmental Policy Institute Center for Food and Justice
With a goal of improving access to fresh and healthy foods, the Center works with communities and farmers through coalition-building, development of innovative programs, and policy analysis.

Consumption Among California Youth

California Children's Healthy Eating and Exercise Practices Survey (CalCHEEPS)
The 2005 CalCHEEPS data tables present detailed information about California children’s fruit and vegetable consumption, physical and sedentary activity, knowledge and awareness of the California Children’s 5 a Day—Power Play! Campaign, and factors that influence these behaviors.

California Teen Eating, Exercise, and Nutrition Survey (CalTEENS)
The 2002 CalTEENS data tables provide detailed information about California adolescent eating and physical activity behaviors.

Department of Defense

California Department of Education Department of Defense Fruit and Vegetable Program
This Web site outlines how the Department of Defense can provide fresh produce to California participants of the National School Lunch Program.

United States (US) Department of Defense Fruit and Vegetable Program
Federal agencies partner with Defense Supply Center of Philadelphia to buy and distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to schools using the USDA's federal commodity entitlement dollars.

Dietary Guidelines

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPyramid.gov
Review food guidance system resources for foodservice professionals and access information on making nutritious food choices and finding the right balance between food and activity.

United States (US) Department of Health Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
This Web site recommends eating more fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and milk products to contribute to an overall healthful diet.

Farm to School Connections

California Department of Education (CDE) Farm to School Program
Through the Farm to School Program, schools buy and feature farm fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables; incorporate nutrition and agriculture-based curricula; and provide students experiential learning opportunities through farm visits, gardening, and recycling programs.

CDE Kids Cook Farm Fresh Food
Designed for students in kindergarten through grade 7, this publication explains where food comes from, highlighting the roles of farmers, land, and weather. Recipes and activities are included.

CDE Nutrition to Grow On
Nutrition to Grow On: Enhanced Nutrition Education Curriculum for Upper Elementary School Children contains nine hands-on, standards-based lessons linked to garden activities.

California Farm Bureau Federation
Learn particulars of agricultural and contact information for each county.

California Farm to School Programs
Farm to school programs connect schools with local farms to serve healthy meals, provide nutrition education and opportunities, and support local farmers.

California Federation of Certified Farmers' Markets
Discover the variety of produce and farmers' markets in each region throughout California.

Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)
CAFF represents rural and urban people who foster family-scale agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local economies, and promotes social justice.

Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) Farm to School Projects
CFSC partners local farmers with nearby schools so that children can enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, while connecting with farms - the source of their food.

National Farm to School Program
Guidelines provided for schools to purchase and feature farm fresh foods on their menus, incorporate nutrition-based curriculum, and offer students experiential learning opportunities.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service School Meal Guidance
The Web site offers a practical handbook: Eat Smart - Farm Fresh: A Guide to Buying and Serving Locally-Grown Produce in School Meals to assist schools with administering farm to school programs.

Fruit and Vegetable Connections

California Cherry Advisory Board
Interesting information offered on merchandising, handling, and display techniques for California Bing Cherries.

California Department of Food and Agriculture
This Web site offers an array of agricultural resources.

California Kiwifruit Commission
Gain valuable information on handling and storage to provide ripe kiwis in your fresh produce selections.

California Pear Commission
Get detailed information on ripening and handling of varieties of California Bartlett Pears.

California Strawberry Commission
Learn details about availability, handling, and storage to ensure freshness of California strawberries.

Fresh California Avocados
Read tips on selecting, ripening, handling, and storing California avocados.

Funding, Implementing, and Supporting School Breakfast Programs

California Department of Education (CDE) School Breakfast Program
Keep informed on all aspects relevant to operating a school breakfast program including menu planning options, funding process, and technical assistance.

California Food Policy Advocates
This statewide public policy and advocacy organization provides up to date information on legislation, research, and regional profiles to improve the health and well being of low-income Californians.

School Nutrition Association: School Nutrition
The publication for foodservice professionals, this magazine offers information on a host of items that affect the successful operation of school foodservice programs.

School Nutrition Association Expanding Breakfast
Expanding Breakfast Manual and Video Kit, Second Edition assists schools in implementing alternate breakfast services, addressing common questions and logistics issues.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service School Breakfast Program
This resource outlines the administration of School Breakfast Programs and offers a School Breakfast Toolkit.

Kitchen Procedures

National Food Service Management Institute Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Developed in conjunction with the USDA and FDA, the NFSMI SOPs provide an important component of an overall food safety program.

Lesson Plans

California Department of Education A Child’s Garden Of Standards
This publication shows how garden-based education strongly supports California academic content standards for students in grades two through six.

Dairy Council of California Now We're Cooking
Use the cooking activities, lessons, and recipes with students in the classroom or cafeteria.

Kids Garden News Eat-a-Rainbow Lesson Plans
Teach kids about healthy eating using the Eat-a-Rainbow chart with nutritive connections for fruits and vegetables.

Nutrition Assistance - Learning Café
Tools and resources provided for administrators, food service professionals, and educators to promote healthful eating and physical activity habits.

Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBHF) 5-a-Day The Color Way Coloring Sheets
Download and print activity sheets with nutrition information and recipes.

PBHF Fruit and Vegetable Coloring Pages
Download and print these pages for students to color, solve puzzles, and test their knowledge.

Serve Up Classroom Nutrition Activities
Develop a nutrition unit with a variety of creative ideas and activities across the curriculum designed by teachers to make learning about nutrition enjoyable.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition and Physical Activity
Access resources, activities, and information on nutrition education to encourage students to make healthier choices.

USDA Recipes and Menu Planning
Involve kids in cooking activities that make nutrition education meaningful and fun.

Marketing Opportunities on Campus

American Dietetic Association (ADA)
Supporting food and nutrition professionals, ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health, and well being.

Jazzy Food and Nutrition Bulletin Board Ideas
Call attention to colorful food choices in school meal programs with these ideas for creating bulletin boards.

Produce for Better Health Foundation Foodservice
Make the most of marketing and promotional resources to put together fun, effective nutrition programs.

USDA Healthy Meals Bulletin Board Fruit and Vegetable Resources
Make use of ideas and printable materials to encourage students (and staff) to lead active, healthy lifestyles.

USDA My Pyramid For Kids Poster
Make nutritional choices comprehensible to students through illustrative posters that can be printed or ordered.

Models of Best Practices and Supporting Research

Breakfast First Successful Breakfast Models
This Web site offers practical information about student-friendly options for improving breakfast service.

National Food Service Management Institute Research
Extensive research is provided on concerns and trends in food service practices.

Nutrition Education

California Agricultural Education Teachers Resources
Discover valuable curriculum resources on agriculture education and agricultural literacy to support teachers and students.

California Department of Education (CDE) A Child’s Garden Of Standards
This publication shows how garden-based education strongly supports California academic content standards for students in grades two through six.

CDE Nutrition Education in the Classroom
Use the resources provided to ensure that students are healthy and ready to learn.

California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom
This organization works with K–12 teachers and students to increase awareness and understanding of agriculture.

California Grown Classroom Activities
Teachers can engage students to learn about California agriculture and the health and economic benefits of buying and eating locally grown products.

California School Nutrition Association (CSNA) Fuel Up Right! With School Meals
As an advocate for school nutrition education, CSNA offers innovative education programs and promotes community awareness towards improving the well being of California’s children.

Field Trip Factory
Field Trip Factory builds partnerships with businesses to create experience-based activities and related curriculum promoting healthy life choices for today's youth.

Fruits and Veggies More Matters
Share this inspirational Web site full of nutrition information and ideas to get kids involved in choosing and eating more fruits and vegetables.

Harvest of the Month, Growing Healthy Students
The goal of this toolkit is to increase students' familiarity with, knowledge of, and preference for California grown fruits and vegetables through school meal programs and a variety of classroom activities.

Leafy Greens Council
The Council’s goal is to increase the consumption of greens. The Web site offers lesson plans, resources, recipes, coloring activities, posters, and trading cards.

Square Meals, Texas Department of Agriculture's Marketing the Program
Square Meals offers suggestions for building an effective Web site to let parents and students know about Fresh Start’s goals.

Nutrition Facts

Harvest of the Month Toolkit Elements Menu Slick
Use the informational, two-sided menu slick as a template to insert monthly breakfast or lunch menus.

Interesting Facts About Fruits
The Indiana Department of Health provides interesting facts and nutritional information about fruit in this easy-to-follow resource.

Interesting Facts About Food and Nutrition
Healthy Nutrition Guide presents practical information about food and nutrition.

Nutrition Data and Facts
Get nutrition facts and analysis about any food, including fast food.

Parent Involvement

Family Nutrition Night
Involve families and students in nutrition education through Family Nutrition Nights.

Harvest of the Month Toolkit Elements
Connect with parents and students through family newsletters, available in English and Spanish, and additional promotional resources.

Planning and Promoting Nutritious Breakfast Programs

California School Board Association (CSBA) Successful Students through Healthy Food and Fitness Policies
CSBA offers a policy resource guide to assist school governance leaders with a step-by-step approach to enhance the school environment so students can develop and practice healthy eating habits.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) A Menu Planner for Healthy School Meals
This resource emphasizes the vital role that nutrition programs play in children's health and learning through meeting nutrition goals, menu planning, and creating healthy school meals.

USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center
This easy-to-navigate Web site serves as a central information location that provides accurate and practical resources for food service professionals and educators.

USDA Fruits & Vegetables Galore, Helping Kids Eat More
This valuable resource offers tips to help school foodservice professionals purchase, protect, prepare, present, and promote fruits and vegetables as part of students' healthy eating habits.

USDA Healthy Meals Resource Library
Access multiple resources on promoting fresh fruit and vegetables in schools, nutrition education, wellness policy, and related activities for children.

USDA Offer versus Serve
Offer versus Serve is a training manual for school districts to use that describes three kinds of menu planning: traditional food-based, enhanced food-based, and nutrient standard.

USDA School Food Service Fruit and Vegetable Resources
To encourage healthier eating habits, find resources such as recipes, food safety information, and links to produce boards and associations.

USDA The Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
The Food Buying Guide, updated in 2002, provides practical guidelines for purchasing and serving the right amounts to ensure nutritious choices for children in schools.

Produce Charts

California Department of Education (CDE) - Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Photo Cards
Colorful photographs of California fruit and vegetables can be purchased as a set to help encourage healthy eating habits.

California Fruits and Vegetables Seasonal Chart
This chart provides month-by-month information about the availability of fruits and vegetables and can also be printed in PDF form.

Harvest of the Month Featured Produce
This Web page offers a produce list for promotion throughout the year in the school classroom and cafeteria, at home, and in the community.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Fruit and Vegetable Availability and Handling Charts
The charts provide details for each fruit and vegetable (and their respective varieties), such as production, availability, handling and storage, and quality and receiving.

University of California (UC) at Davis - Postharvest Technology Produce Storage Chart
This Web site offers useful, large charts for compatible produce for 7-day storage of fruits and vegetables.

Produce Information

California Federation of Certified Farmers' Markets
Learn more about the variety of produce and farmers' markets in each region throughout California.

Harvest of the Month Featured Produce
This Web page offers a produce list for promotion throughout the year in the school classroom and cafeteria, at home, and in the community.

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Education Foundation
The PMA Foundation provides resources to teachers and encourages students to participate in educational activities that could lead to careers in the produce industry.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Agricultural Marketing Service
This Web site maintains commercial item descriptions for hundreds of food items, which can be informative when developing or adapting your district's quality standards.

Receiving, Storage, and Preparation

National Food Service Management Institute
After downloading the free software, watch instructional videos on culinary techniques in the kitchen.

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) - Cold Box/Walk-in Cooler Poster
Order this easy to read poster to aid in storing produce at the proper temperature for maximum quality.

PMA - Temperature Guidelines for Fresh Produce Poster
Order this colorful poster to make fruit and vegetable storage simple and easy.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Fruits & Vegetables Galore, Helping Kids Eat More
Full of useful information, this resource is available in both hard copy and electronic formats, describing in detail serving options for fruits and vegetables (see Tricks of the Trade) and buying produce decisions (see Quality Food for Quality Meals): what to buy and how much, standards, grade specifications, product sheets, and food safety.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service Team Nutrition Choice Plus
Choice Plus: A Reference Guide for Food and Ingredients provides information to assist districts with decision making when purchasing food for school meals.

Safety and Produce

Fight BAC! Safe Produce Handling Campaign
The Partnership for Food Safety Education offers educational materials on produce handling and community outreach ideas.

National Food Service Management Institute Information and Publications
Colorful food safety mini-posters can be downloaded in English or Spanish from this Web page.

Serving it Safe, Second Edition
This manual, published by the National Food Service Management Institute, provides guidance for food safety for food service personnel.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Fruit and Vegetable Safety
Follow guidelines in the many resources provided to ensure safety and quality of fresh produce.

Sampling and Taste-testing

Institute for Community Health - How to Offer a Taste Test
Detailed and practical information provided about how to order, promote, and serve fruit and vegetables in a taste test.

Produce for Better Health Foundation Fact Sheets
The colorful, single page fact sheets contain tips and ideas for promoting fruits and vegetables in nutrition programs.

Vermont FEED - Food Education Every Day
Among the useful tools and resources is a guide to providing a successful taste test at your school site.

School Breakfast Studies

Breakfast First
Results of multiple studies show that students who eat breakfast at school tend to eat more nutritious food and that those who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight.

Food Research and Action Center
Information on Federal Food Programs from studies about the benefits and sources of funding for School Breakfast Programs, including research, policy briefs, federal resources, and fact sheets.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service
This report provides a summary of a comprehensive review and synthesis of published research on the impact of USDA's domestic food and nutrition assistance programs on participants' nutrition intake, health outcomes, academic achievement, and school performance.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service
This Executive Summary reviews the effects of School Breakfast Programs on the likelihood of low-income students eating breakfast.

School District Connections

Hawthorne School District Nutrition Services
This California school district nutrition services Web page offers many resources for serving healthy food choices. This is the district featured in Steve Baldwin's "Getting Buy In" video clip.

School Gardens

Building School Gardens
Involve students in learning about the relationships between people, plants, wildlife, and natural processes to engage them and deepen their understanding.

California Department of Education (CDE) A Garden in Every School Program
The program promotes garden-based education through connections between classroom, school cafeteria, local agriculture, waste management, and others.

CDE A Child's Garden of Standards
This publication shows how garden-based education strongly supports California academic content standards for students in grades two through six.

California School Garden Network (CSGN)
The Network works to create and sustain California school gardens to enhance academic achievement, a healthy lifestyle, environmental stewardship, and community and social development.

Gardens for Learning
CSGN offers this guidebook to support growing school gardens as a free resource to California teachers. Chapters can be downloaded from this site.

Kidsgardening - Helping Young Minds Grow
From the National Gardening Association, this Web site aims to involve children in recognizing, learning from, and appreciating the wonders of plants and nature.

Life Lab Science Program
Life Lab offers classroom support and teacher professional development in its efforts toward the development and dissemination of garden-centered education programs.

Plant a Seed, Watch it Grow
This Web site contains step-by-step information and resources on how to set up gardens with students.

The Center for Ecoliteracy Rethinking School Lunch (RSL)
RSL creates a framework for a comprehensive curriculum that integrates campus gardens, kitchen classrooms, school lunch, and a wide range of academic subjects.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Gardening Classroom Activities
Access curriculum resources for hands-on activities in nutrition education.

Schools' Role in Students' Health

California Department of Education (CDE) School Nutrition…by Design!
This report from the Advisory Committee on Nutrition Implementation Strategies provides the design principles behind developing a healthy school nutrition environment.

CDE Healthy Children Ready to Learn
This white paper outlines goals to provide an environment and culture to develop healthy habits, as well as the responsibilities of schools to support children in health, nutrition, and physical education.

Produce for Better Health Foundation Educators
Find educational tools and resources for marketing and education to foster an environment where people eat more fruits and vegetables.

United Fresh Produce Association
United Research and Education Foundation launched Project Fresh Start, which increases the availability of fresh produce in school meals and changes the environment in which children make food choices in America.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Local Wellness Policy
Federal legislation provides guidelines and support for school districts to set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness.

USDA Team Nutrition Foodservice Professionals
Highlighting the vital role that foodservice professionals provide in impacting children's healthy food choices, this Web site offers resources, posters, nutrition education materials, and training manuals.

Serving Fruits and Vegetables

Harvest of the Month Resources
Practical resources about fruits and vegetables by season to positively impact classroom, cafeteria, home, and community.

California Kiwifruit Commission - How to Sloop Kiwi
Find out how to split kiwis in half to scoop out the tasty fruit inside.

Campeones de Cambio Recipes
Increase the variety of fruits and vegetables in children's food choices by trying recipes from the Healthy Latino Recipes Made with Love cookbook.

Champions for Change Kid-Friendly Recipes
Share these delicious and healthy recipes from the Fruits & Vegetables Power Play! Campaign’s Kids…Get Cookin’! cookbook to encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables.

Spoons Across America (Children’s Culinary Education)
This nonprofit organization supports hands-on education programs that celebrate the connection to local farmers and sharing meals at the family table.

Students' Health and Nutrition

California Department of Education (CDE) - Kids Cook Farm Fresh Food
Designed for students in kindergarten through grade 7, this publication explains where food comes from, highlighting the roles of farmers, land, and weather. Recipes and activities are included.

California School Nutrition Association (CSNA) Nutrition Advisory Councils
Students can form Nutrition Advisory Councils as school clubs to spread the word about how good nutrition and school meal programs can contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

KidsHealth Recipes
Aimed at kids, this site could also be a resource for teachers to use when serving breakfast in classrooms or linking academics to nutrition and health.

Produce for Kids
Produce for Kids focuses on educating children and parents on the healthy benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables with proceeds directed to helping hospitalized children.

TeensHealth
This Web site offers physician-reviewed articles relevant to concerns teenagers have around a range of health and food topics.

Virtual Farm Tours

Coastalfields Virtual Farm Tour
The virtual tour describes how the produce is grown, considering every aspect: biodiversity, irrigation, planting strategies, fertilization, and harvesting.

Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market Virtual Tour
The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture supports farmers, locally grown produce, and community through the farmers' market.

Growing Small Farms - Logan Farms Virtual Farm Tour
On this family farm, customers can pick their own strawberries or purchase a variety of produce.