BARRE, VT. – The Vermont Agency of Education is encouraging all Vermont schools to share photos on social media of their healthy and farm-fresh school lunches in celebration of National School Lunch Week, October 9-13, 2017.
School lunches are an invaluable opportunity to ensure all Vermont students are well nourished and prepared to be productive learners throughout the day.
Vermont schools served 7,779,277 school lunches in the 2016-2017 school year. Many Vermont schools now offer a full salad bar, and all lunches include servings of a variety of vegetables, fruits, a whole grain item, fresh milk, and a protein item.
According to the 2015 USDA Farm to School census, 83 percent of Vermont school districts have a farm-to-school program – the highest percentage in the nation. In these schools, our children are eating the best Vermont-grown foods our farms can provide. Given research on the importance of good nutrition to strong physical and cognitive development, bringing farm-fresh foods to our school meals is an important investment in our children.
Read the entire Share Your Photos for National School Lunch Week.