APS Nutrition and Office of Early Learning host a first-ever Winter Fun-Land event

Zoey, the C.H.O.I.C.E.S. mascot, interacts with pre-k students during lunch

The Atlanta Public Schools Nutrition Department and Office of Early Learning collaborated for a first-ever Winter Fun-Land event held at Crim Open Campus. Nearly 500 pre-kindergarten students in the Head Start program were invited to this holiday event for a healthy meal and to learn about nutrition in the process. This four-day event was sponsored by the APS Nutrition Department, APS Office of Early Learning, Crim Open Campus High School, Sodexo in partnership with Jackmont Hospitality, and The Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully, Inc. (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.).

“It’s an excellent opportunity for the nutrition department to actually teach nutrition education,” said Marilyn Hughes, director of nutrition at Atlanta Public Schools. “We are just wanting to continue to support the Office of Early Learning.”

Students were served a healthy menu that included tomato and corn soup, grilled cheese sandwich, carrots, fresh cut apples, and peaches. Costume characters dressed as  fruits and vegetables and representing sponsors mingled with the children. The nutrition staff had an opportunity to read books to the students titled “The Hungry Caterpillar.” Every teacher also received with a book titled “Eating the Alphabet” for their classrooms, and students received an interactive flier to take home.

“We’re here to help our children to have a better understanding of the importance of fruits and vegetables as well as the importance of literacy and how fruits and vegetables impact their ability to learn at high levels,” said Courtney Jones, early learning coordinator at Atlanta Public Schools.

APS nutrition staff read “The Hungry Caterpillar” to students