St. Ignatius schools in Montana are putting a focus on locally-grown food in their lunchrooms to promote healthy eating habits and educate students about where their food comes from. Teachers and school officials are working to instill the importance of eating fresh, culturally-relevant foods that are better for their growing minds. Through programs like “Harvest of the Month,” students are able to learn about different fruits and vegetables each month and how they can incorporate them into their diets. For example, during October, apples were featured and paired with local bison to connect healthy eating with Native American culture.
The school has a garden on an old tribal home site where students actively participate in growing their own produce, giving them a hands-on experience in shaping their diets. The school’s food service director, Wendy Wieder, emphasizes the importance of supporting local farmers and ranchers, with the bison served in the lunchroom coming from St. Ignatius.
Overall, the goal of the program is to celebrate the community’s culture and heritage through food, while also promoting healthy eating habits among the students. By providing students with access to fresh, locally-grown foods, St. Ignatius schools are creating a new generation of Montanans who understand the value of farm-to-table eating.
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