Des Moines Public Schools is proud to be participating in Wellness Wednesdays serving healthy foods & promoting nutrition education.
Oranges are a type of them grown in the U.S. from
3
Popular Types of Oranges:
1. Navel
2. Hamlin
3. Valencia
600+ varieties of oranges.
Orange season is 9 months long… October - June!
oranges are juiced.
-tropical areas have ideal climate for growing oranges.
Most oranges are harvested by hand.
Vitamin C supports the immune systemthe body’s defense against infections.
ENERGY booster!
Vitamin C is also referred to as “ascorbic acid.”
Vitamin C helps keep you happy & healthy!
Vitamin C is an antioxidant.
Antioxidants help protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances in the environment.
The body cannot make vitamin C on its own - it has to come from food.
What do you call a vitamin that improves your eyesight?
A Vitamin C!
Vitamin C is a very important vitamin for healthy gums & teeth.
Bell peppers are technically fruits - they are grown from a flower & contain seeds.
Bell peppers can be 2 to 6 inches long.
Capsaicin is the chemical that makes other peppers
The bell pepper is the ONLY member of the pepper family that does not produce
Bell peppers are in the same family as tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes.
Red bell peppers are also known as sweet peppers.
long they ripen.
Bell peppers get sweeter the longer they ripen.
Potassium supports balancing fluid in the body & proper function of the muscles and nerves.
Once potassium enters the body, it functions as an electrolyte.
Helps to keep the body hydrated!
Electrolytes help balance the amount of water in the body.
FUN FACT:
The body is made up of approximately 60% water.
Potassium is the THIRD most abundant mineral in the body.
Potassium helps promote bone health.
Potassium helps to regulate muscle contractions.
98% of the body’s potassium is found it its cells.
Many runners eat foods high in potassium before a run to prevent muscle cramps
Carrots are a type of root vegetable underground
Carrots are 88% water.
WINTERS underground!
Carrots are biennials, which means they have a 2-year life cycle.
more vivid colors during the day
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
How far can you read down this eye chart?
speed up the healing process of cuts & scraps.
How do you know carrots are good for the eyes?
You never see a rabbit wearing glasses!
Vitamin A supports the immune system to fight off infections.
Strawberries are known for their bright red color & sweetness.
Strawberries are a part of the rose family.
1 acre of land can produce 50,000 pounds of strawberries.
Strawberries are the FIRST fruit to ripen in the spring.
Peak strawberry harvesting season is April - June.
1. June-bearing
2. Ever-bearing
3. Day-neutral
Main Types of Strawberries: 3 strawberry has 200 seeds.
Strawberries are the ONLY fruit with seeds on the outside.
90% of the strawberries grown in the U.S. are from California.
Fiber supports movement through the digestive system.
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body doesn’t digest, it simply passes through.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water…it helps regulate blood sugar levels and removes cholesterol form the blood stream.
Insoluble fiber is sometimes referred to as “roughage. ”
2 types of fiber:
1. Soluble fiber
Insoluble fiber
Fiber is ONLY found in plant foods.
Dairy & meat products do not have any fiber.
Fiber helps to regulate the body’s use of sugar.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water…it helps food move throughout the digestive system.
BOTH forms of fiber are important & beneficial to overall health.
Milk is a type of dairy product –most commonly made from cows.
1 serving milk contains
13 essential nutrients
1. Ayrshire
2. Brown Swiss
3. Guernsey
4. Holstein
5. Jersey
1 cow produces around 6 gallons of milk/day.
Milking Shorthorn
Holstein cows all have a unique pattern of spots!
The reason milk is white is because it contains “casein”
- a type of protein.
The U.S. produces ~227 BILLION pounds of milk each year.
Milk is the source of ALL dairy products!
Calcium supports healthy bones & teeth as well as proper blood & muscle function
Calcium is the 5th most abundant chemical element in the Earth’s crust.
Calcium helps keep muscles
99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones.
Calcium also supports 1% is found in the blood, muscles & other tissues.
Calcium helps to heal cuts & wounds.
Calcium helps form bones and teeth and keep them healthy.
Calcium is the MOST abundant mineral in the human body.
