Richmond Community Schools, MI - Farm To Student 2024/2025
2024/2025 EDITION
Richmond Community Schools
D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E E N R I C H M E N T
C elebratin g local food, local farmers & nutrition education!
The Food Service Department at Richmond Community Schools is committed to delivering nutritious and delicious meals that support student success. Its mission is to enhance student health and well-being through the promotion of healthy eating habits.
Richmond Community Schools’ Wellness Policy
C elebratin g local food, local farmers & nutrition education!
Radishes
Radishes are a type of root vegetableedible plants that grow underground.
The name radish comes from the Latin word “radix” that means
Radishes come in many different shapes & sizes.
Radishes are cool season vegetables.
Radishes are a root vegetable. The Red Globe common variety of radish.
Radishes need full sun
Radishes grow very fast – taking only 25 days to grow from seed to harvest ready vegetable.
Calcium
Calcium supports as well as proper blood
Calcium is the 5th chemical element in the Earth’s crust.
99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones
Calcium helps form bones and teeth and keep them healthy.
blood, muscles & other tissues. Calcium helps to heal cuts & wounds.
Calcium is the MOST abundant mineral in the human body.
Milk is a type of dairy product –most commonly made from cows.
1 serving contains
Milk is made up of 85-95% water with the rest being fats, proteins, carbohydrates & vitamins
Breeds of Dairy Cows: 6
1. Ayrshire
2. Brown Swiss
3. Guernsey
4. Holstein
5. Jersey
6. Milking Shorthorn
Holstein cows all have a unique pattern of spots!
1 cow produces around 6 gallons of milk per day. Cows can SEE almost 360 degrees and SMELL up to 6 miles away!
dairy farms!
Protein
Protein builds, maintains and replaces the tissues in the body.
Protein helps to transport & store nutrients throughout the body.
18 - 20% of the body is protein.
EVERY cell in the human body contains protein.
The body cannot store protein long term… which is why protein needs to be consumed daily.
Protein is made
blocks.
Protein plays a big role in building and repairing muscles.
Protein is a MACRONUTRIENT . A macronutrient is a nutrient that the body needs in LARGE
Protein helps maintain fluid balance throughout the body.
Cherries
Cherries are a type of stone fruit - a fleshy fruit that contains a hard “pit” inside.
Honeybees
cherry trees main pollinators.
Bing cherries –the most popular variety of cherry.
Tart cherries are most often used for baking.
2 main types of cherries: tart & sweet.
Cherry trees can grow up to be 33 feet tall!
Cherries grow on trees that are known for their flowers – the cherry blossom.
Over 1,000 varieties.
An entire cherry tree can be harvested in just 7 seconds.
A typical cherry tree produces ~ 7,000 cherries.
A cherry tree can survive and produce fruit for around 100 years.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports the immune systemthe body’s defense against infections.
ENERGY booster!
Vitamin C is also referred to as “ascorbic acid.”
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.
Vitamin C helps keep you happy & healthy! What do you call a vitamin that improves your eyesight?
A
Vitamin C!
Vitamin C is a very important vitamin for healthy gums & teeth.
Eat Good .
Feel Good .
Do Good .
March is National Nutrition Month
Let’s celebrate! National Nutrition Month is all about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating habits. a time to learn how to keep our bodies strong and healthy! Eating nutritious foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains and proteins gives us energy to play, learn and grow.
Sweet Corn
Corn is considered a grain, fruit & vegetable
The U.S. is the LARGEST producer, consumer & exporter of corn in the world.
Humans only eat sweet corn
An ear of corn ALWAYS of land can produce of sweet corn.
Corn is grown on EVERY continent except Antarctica.
There are around 800 kernels on each ear of corn. field crop.
In many other countries, corn is called “maize
1 corn stalk produces 1 - 3 ears of corn
Corn stalks can grow between 7 – 10 feet tall.
Fiber
Fiber supports movement through the digestive system
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate doesn’t digest, it simply passes through.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water…it helps regulate blood sugar levels and cholesterol from 2 types of fiber:
Insoluble fiber is sometimes referred to as “roughage. ”
1. Soluble fiber
Insoluble fiber
Dairy & meat products do not have any fiber.
Fiber helps to regulate the body’s use of sugar.
BOTH forms of fiber are important & beneficial to overall health. in plant foods.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water…it helps food move throughout the digestive system.
Broccoli
1.
Broccoli is a related to cabbage, kale, cauliflower & others.
Heading
Pronounced · fr· uhs
Broccoli
The word broccoli means “the flowering top of a cabbage. ”
Broccoli is a part of the brassica family.
All broccoli
Broccoli grows during the
Potassium
Potassium supports balancing fluid in the body & proper function of the muscles and nerves.
Once potassium enters the body, it functions as an electrolyte.
Electrolytes help amount of water in the body.
Helps to keep the body
Potassium helps to regulate the heart rate
Potassium helps to regulate contractions.
Potassium is the THIRD most abundant mineral potassium is found in
The body is made 60% helps promote .
Many runners eat foods high in potassium like pears before a run to prevent muscle cramps.
Lettuce
Lettuce is a type of leafy green vegetable.
Lettuce plants grow to be 6 - 12 inches tall.
4.
Lettuce grows best in cooler climates.
Iceberg lettuce (also known as crisphead) is the most popular type of lettuce in the U.S.
2. Crisphead
3. Looseleaf
Romaine
Vitamin A
Vitamin A supports good vision, growth & immunity
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
see better at night more vivid colors during the day
How far can you read down this eye chart?
Vitamin A has antioxidant properties.
Vitamin A can help speed up the healing process of cuts & scrapes.
How do you know lettuce is good for the eyes? You never see a rabbit wearing glasses!
Vitamin A supports the immune system to fight off infections.
Celery
Celery is a crunchy, green vegetable that grows in stalks.
The darker the celery stalks are, the more nutrients they contain.
1 bunch of celery consists of 10 - 12 individual stalks.
Celery is a longseason crop that takes up to 140 days to be ready to harvest after planting.
Celery prefers to grown 6 hours of full sun and afternoon shade. Celery is biennial plant.
Celery 95%
Celery stalks grow to be 12 - 18 inches tall
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports the immune system the body’s defense against infections.
ENERGY booster!
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances in the environment.
Vitamin C is also referred to as “ascorbic acid.”
vitamin C on its own - it has to come from food.
Vitamin C helps keep you happy & healthy! What do you call a vitamin that improves your eyesight?
A Vitamin C!
Vitamin C is a very important vitamin for healthy gums & teeth.
Word Scramble
SRYBDTAHEROCA
EMIUNM HTAHEL
ZNCI CIMUALC ORNI
AOIDXTAITNN
TVAIINM C
YDARI TAREH HALTEH
BEIRF ENPRTOI
Bananas
Bananas are a type of tropical fruit - classified specifically as a berry.
Bananas grow in hanging bunches called
popular type of banana is the Cavendish banana.
Bananas change color from green to yellow as they ripen. Did you know monkeys peel bananas upside down? It’s easier & less damaging
continue to ripen after they are harvested.
100+ BILLION bananas are eaten around the world each year.
Banana plants can grow to be up to 30 feet tall.
Potassium
Potassium supports balancing fluid in the body & proper function of the muscles and nerves
Once potassium enters the body, it functions as an electrolyte.
Electrolytes help balance the amount of water in the body.
Helps to keep the body
The body is made 60%
Potassium is the THIRD most abundant mineral in the body.
Potassium helps to regulate the
Potassium helps promote bone health.
98% of the body’s potassium is found in its cells.
Many runners eat foods high in potassium like before a run to prevent muscle cramps. Potassium helps regulate contractions.
Strawberries
Strawberries are a type of aggregate fruit a collection of ‘little fruits’ held together.
Strawberries are a part of the rose family.
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 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.
Manganese
Manganese supports the body’s energy levels & protecting its cells from damage.
brain health
. Foods like strawberries absorb minerals through their roots.
Manganese is
Manganese helps
helps the body blood clots helping wounds heal faster! against infections.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are technically fruits since they & contain seeds.
There are cucumbers.
1 vine can produce 25 - 125 cucumbers. of cucumbers seeds.
World Cucumber Day is June 14th!
Cucumbers grow on
Vitamin K
Vitamin K supports proper blood function, bone growth & kidney health. The body has the ability to create vitamin K on its own.
2 main forms of vitamin K: K1 and K2.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble which means…
Vitamin K helps the body heal from wounds.
It absorbs better into the body when eaten with foods with some fat like olive oil or avocados!
Vitamin K helps produce proteins that bind themselves to calcium - this helps build strong bones.
Vitamin K supports heart health.
Vitamin K is found throughout the body in the liver, brain, heart, pancreas & bones.
Vitamin K plays a role in proper blood function- specifically with clotting.
