Kalona students participate in 'Pick a Better Snack'

First-graders at Kalona Elementary have been taking more healthy bites these past two weeks through the Pick a Better Snack program. This week the focus was on exercise and cucumber.

They learned that 60 minutes of exercise is required each day for healthy bodies. While enjoying fresh cucumber slices they learned that cucumbers are eaten fresh, grown on a vine with a blossom and pollination needed from bees to produce a cucumber fruit. Audrey Miller from Kerri Bell?s second grade class is all cucumber smiles about her snack.

This program is designed to motivate children to eat more fruits and vegetables and to be more physically active. Each week Amy Green, 4-H/youth coordinator, visits the first-grade classrooms to talk about making healthy food choices. They always get to sample a particular fruit or vegetable of the day.

If you have any questions about the Pick a Better Snack program or would like to volunteer or financially support the program, please call the Washington County Extension Office at 319-653-4811.