March is National Nutrition Month, a campaign launched 50 years ago to focus on the importance of informed food choices and sound eating habits.  

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Nutrition Department used the month to unveil fresh fruit and vegetable bars in several of its schools.   

Bob Gorman, school nutrition executive director, says this is a way to encourage students to try foods they might not have eaten before.    

“We want to expose them to more fresh fruit and vegetables,” said Gorman. “The fresh fruits and vegetable bars allow students to take as much or as little of an item as they want.”     

Last year, the United States Department of Agriculture awarded CMSD’s nutrition department a Farm to School Grant worth nearly $50,000. The aim of the grant is to increase students' access to fresh local fruits and vegetables.  

The fruit and vegetables bar pilot program began March 16th in 10 buildings: Max Hayes, James F. Rhodes, Cleveland School of the Arts, John F. Kennedy high schools and Almira, Garfield, Benjamin Franklin, Stonebrook-White Montessori, AJ Rickoff and Memorial PreK-8 schools.  

 “The goal is to eventually have fresh fruit and vegetable bars in every school,” said Gorman.  

At Max Hayes High School, students went through the lunch line and added lettuce, sliced red bell peppers, broccoli and more to their trays.   

Pablo, a Max Hayes High School senior, picked oranges and strawberries to eat with his lunch.   

“I think this is a great idea, especially for those who want to eat healthy,” he said.   

Mary Fontanez, assistant lunchroom manager at Max Hayes, said students appeared excited about the new healthy options.  

“The different colors of the fruits and veggies caught the students' attention, and they are putting them on their plates,” said Fontanez.