Taste testing the harvest

School program encourages kids to try something new

By Rachel Rosen • February 17, 2023 1:30 am

It’s lunchtime at Olympic View Elementary School in Oak Harbor and some brave kindergarteners are standing in line to try a food they’ve never eaten before.

The Harvest of the Month program introduces students throughout Oak Harbor elementary schools to food that’s outside of the usual lunchroom menu. The school district’s nutrition services partner with local farms and Whidbey Island Grown Cooperative to bring the locally grown produce to children.

For the month of February, the featured food was the radish. Julie James, food service manager for the district, mashed and then baked the spicy vegetable so students could pick up the crispy, savory treat with their hands. She also sliced and fried purple radishes into chips.

Last month, golden beets were made into muffins and cookies. Before that, students tried both winter and spaghetti squash. Staff usually cooks the food in two different ways to provide variety.

Most of the kindergartners seemed to enjoy the mashed radishes. If they didn’t, let’s just say it was evident by their facial expressions. After providing feedback on the treat (a “yes” or “no”), kids are rewarded for trying a new dish with their choice of sticker.

“I’m known as the sticker lady,” James said with a laugh.

Older students in the districts also get to try a new food every month. Students at North Whidbey Middle School and Oak Harbor Intermediate School recently tasted Jollof rice, an African dish. High schoolers have had a bagel taste test, as well as a blind taste test of homemade versus store-bought pizza dough.

Nutrition services takes the students’ opinions into account, said Lisa Jones, communications specialist for the district. The high school now serves the preferred homemade pizza dough.

For the elementary school students, the main goal is to encourage them to try different types of food.

James said Irish soda bread will be on the menu next month, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

“Harvest of the Month is a great opportunity for students to try different vegetables and learn about local and seasonally available food,” wrote Shannon Bly, executive director of Whidbey Island Grown Co-op. “We especially enjoyed providing the different winter squash from four different local farms, which the students tried and voted on their favorite – spaghetti squash.”