USDA celebrates ‘National School Lunch Week’ with visit to local school

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Students at a Tupelo elementary school had some special guests for lunch. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture visited Lawndale Elementary where they saw first hand how students get hands-on lessons in agriculture and nutrition.

For six years now, the “Growing Healthy Waves” program has been in place at Lawndale Elementary. Students acted as tour guides for the special guests, who were shown the school’s gardens and the Sprout House.

A healthy lunch included items such as, “Summer Loving Squash and Onions” from the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office Garden, “You’re My Cutie Cucumber and Tomato Salad” from St Bethany Fresh and “Roasted Achy Breaky Acorn Squash” from Native Son Farm.

“We think it’s important for kids to have a chance to go out in the garden and grow food and that way they will eat that same food they grow,” said Donna Loden, who is in charge of the “Growing Healthy Waves” program.

The USDA visit is part of the Farm to School program. It’s all about teaching students the importance of making healthy, nutritious decisions at a young age.

“It’s about having healthier choices, making sure our students have their nutritional start, we know a good meal helps them also achieve academically, that is part of why we’re here,” said Willie Taylor, with the USDA.

The special guests toured a local farm after lunch with Lawndale students.

National School Lunch week has been celebrated for more than 70 years as a USDA program.