By Amanda Mlekush
Over the past year, more than 1,500 students in nine local schools received food and nutrition education from App State students and faculty as part of a continuing educational outreach project and partnership with Watauga County school nurses.
In spring 2023, Nutrition faculty member Dr. Alisha Farris responded to a request from Watauga County Schools nurse Brooke Kidwell (who has since joined the Nursing Department at App State) about presenting some nutrition and health information to students at Blowing Rock Elementary.
That initiative has grown from one school to nine–and now spans two counties. This past year, undergraduate and graduate Nutrition students and faculty visited Blowing Rock, Green Valley, Mabel, Hardin Park, Valle Crucis, Cove Creek, Parkway, Freedom Trail and Newland.
“We focus our teaching on how to make healthy choices and the benefit of eating a variety of foods from all the food groups,” said Farris. “Using MyPlate as our main educational teaching tool, our students build the lessons off each food group and how each benefits the body. We also share ways to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their day.”
Students also prepare food for tasting. This year, students were encouraged to try a cup with different fruits and vegetables including melon, grapes, an orange slice, pepper slice, carrot and celery.
One sixth grader’s passion for peanut butter made an impression on Sophie Pierzala, who participated in the initiative while completing her BS in Nutrition and Foods; Pierzala plans to attend graduate school at App State in the fall.
“One student stands out in my memory for telling the group how he could incorporate his favorite food of all time–peanut butter–into every food group,” Pierzala said. “Apples and peanut butter…ants on a log…peanut butter sandwiches…he may not have intended to, but he gave some perfect examples of how to create balanced meals and snacks with the food–or foods–you love.”
Many of the students were also interested in learning more about how food could help them fuel their bodies while participating in sports or other physical activities.
“One common theme we saw across the schools was that many of the students play sports or are involved in other physical activities,” said graduate student Pablo Jimenez Estrada. “We were able to tie that activity back to the importance of nutrients. At each school, the students welcomed us with kindness and openness, and our students were able to practice public presentation skills along with sharing different things we've learned in class.”
Farris plans to meet with the school nurses from the counties again this fall to plan the outreach for the new school year. “We are trying to show the younger students that nutrition is fun, it can be easy, and we want to encourage a good relationship with food early in life,” Farris said.
Dr. Alisha Farris (left) worked with students to plan and provide lessons for local students
Four students stand with a faculty member inside a brick building