When she talks to children about the importance of eating fresh fruit and vegetables as part of their daily diet, Leah Korger knows how to spark their interest: Let them get their hands dirty. During the next 11 months, the New London resident will work with the Norwich school district as its FoodCorps service member. In that role, she’ll work to increase the amount of local healthy food in school lunches, encourage children to try and eat more responsibly and conduct nutrition education in classrooms during and after school.
Korger, who has a nutrition degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, also completed an organic farming internship at Harmony Ridge Farms in Tobaccoville, N.C.
Q: Can you explain what the FoodCorps program is?
A: It’s a national team of leaders that aims to connect kids with real food in order to help them grow up healthy. We try to teach kids about nutrition, healthy eating and engaging them through school gardens and hands-on activities.
Q: Do you see a need for this type of service in Norwich?
A: FoodCorps puts people in communities with the most need. Currently, there are 15 states across the U.S. that have (FoodCorps) programs, and each state has a host site. Ours is the Connecticut Cooperative Extension System. Since there is such a high number of kids eligible for free and reduced lunch (in Norwich), it provides a good opportunity through grants to bring in more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Q: Are kids receptive to the FoodCorps message?
A: I think they are. As long as you make it fun and engaging and they can get their hands dirty, they’re excited about it. Part of the trick is marketing it to them, because they are seeing so many advertisements for fun, sugary cereals and soda, so you have to make healthy eating the same way.
Q: What strategy do you use to draw their attention?
A: I have a costume in the works called ‘Captain Health.’ I’m going to try and work that in and get on some morning school news and talk about the snacks kids are eating. Maybe also go around to some of the cafeterias in costume and eat lunch with the kids.
Q: What are your main priorities for the time you’re working with the district?
A: I would love to get a garden in at Uncas (Elementary School). That’s one of the top priorities, to set up a committee and have it be sustainable after I leave.
Q: Do community gardens work in a school setting?
A: I think it shows after kids have had some gardening education. Whey the plant carrots, for example, they’re more likely to eat carrots because they understand it’s something they can do.
When she talks to children about the importance of eating fresh fruit and vegetables as part of their daily diet, Leah Korger knows how to spark their interest: Let them get their hands dirty. During the next 11 months, the New London resident will work with the Norwich school district as its FoodCorps service member. In that role, she’ll work to increase the amount of local healthy food in school lunches, encourage children to try and eat more responsibly and conduct nutrition education in classrooms during and after school.
Korger, who has a nutrition degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, also completed an organic farming internship at Harmony Ridge Farms in Tobaccoville, N.C.
Q: Can you explain what the FoodCorps program is?
A: It’s a national team of leaders that aims to connect kids with real food in order to help them grow up healthy. We try to teach kids about nutrition, healthy eating and engaging them through school gardens and hands-on activities.
Q: Do you see a need for this type of service in Norwich?
A: FoodCorps puts people in communities with the most need. Currently, there are 15 states across the U.S. that have (FoodCorps) programs, and each state has a host site. Ours is the Connecticut Cooperative Extension System. Since there is such a high number of kids eligible for free and reduced lunch (in Norwich), it provides a good opportunity through grants to bring in more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Q: Are kids receptive to the FoodCorps message?
A: I think they are. As long as you make it fun and engaging and they can get their hands dirty, they’re excited about it. Part of the trick is marketing it to them, because they are seeing so many advertisements for fun, sugary cereals and soda, so you have to make healthy eating the same way.
Q: What strategy do you use to draw their attention?
A: I have a costume in the works called ‘Captain Health.’ I’m going to try and work that in and get on some morning school news and talk about the snacks kids are eating. Maybe also go around to some of the cafeterias in costume and eat lunch with the kids.
Q: What are your main priorities for the time you’re working with the district?
A: I would love to get a garden in at Uncas (Elementary School). That’s one of the top priorities, to set up a committee and have it be sustainable after I leave.
Q: Do community gardens work in a school setting?
A: I think it shows after kids have had some gardening education. Whey the plant carrots, for example, they’re more likely to eat carrots because they understand it’s something they can do.
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