星空无限传媒

In Louisiana, food isn鈥檛 just something we eat 鈥� it's part of our culture and who we are. From gumbo and crawfish boils to weekly family dinners, Louisiana鈥檚 identity can always be tied to its local produce, agriculture, and the people who make these unforgettable meals possible.

Seeds to Success: the Louisiana Farm to School Program, a collaboration between the LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Education, is bringing local foods to area schools. Its Louisiana Harvest of the Month (HOM) program helps Louisiana children connect to where their food comes from while celebrating the state鈥檚 agricultural roots. On LSU鈥檚 campus, the program brings farm-fresh learning directly into the classrooms of the LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP). 

"Programs like Harvest of the Month support the development of healthy eating habits by introducing children to a variety of nutritious food options at an early age. The program highlights different ways to enjoy these foods through hands-on cooking experiences and engaging recipes. Because young children learn best through active participation, involving them in food preparation encourages curiosity and increases their willingness to try new foods," said Kamille Watson, director of the LSU ECELP.  

Each month, participating schools, like the ECELP, feature one locally grown product through taste tests, classroom lessons, and cafeteria meals鈥攕parking lifelong eating habits.  

鈥淓ating behavior evolves in the first few years as children experience new foods and observe others experiencing those same foods,鈥� said Farm to School program manager Tyne Bankester. 鈥淲hen centers engage in farm to school programming, there are positive impacts in student nutrition knowledge and behaviors, while also improving the food service operations and nutrition quality provided to students and staff.鈥�

Bankester said LSU鈥檚 ECELP is an example of a major success in modeling early childhood wellness and education.   

鈥淎s a model demonstration school, ECELP values partnerships that extend our impact on early childhood education. These experiences not only enrich our students鈥� hands-on learning but also strengthen our home鈥搒chool connections, as families contribute ingredients and supplies for featured recipes. Our educators have even shared the program鈥檚 success at professional conferences, showcasing how these meaningful partnerships elevate both our program and the broader field of early childhood education,鈥� Watson said.  

Parents with children attending the LSU ECELP are seeing the power of the program in their own homes.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great example of how 星空无限传媒 the LSU AgCenter make research and education real for families. The program helps kids build healthy habits while giving parents tools they can use at home, too,鈥� said the parent of a 4-year-old preschooler.   

The LSU ECELP鈥檚 program is year-round. One month this fall, corn was their featured harvest, and the school invited families to share their favorite corn-based recipes, resulting in a class cookbook.   

The Harvest of the Month program gives students the chance to create memories with classmates and come home with memorable stories.

One parent said, 鈥淢y daughter went through a phase where she decided she didn鈥檛 like tomatoes anymore 鈥� until lettuce was the harvest of the month. She came home excited after making a salad with her classmates and proudly told us she ate everything, including the tomatoes. Now she鈥檚 back to eating them again. It鈥檚 amazing what a little encouragement and shared experience can do.鈥�  
  
鈥淐hildren, especially small children, are often detached from where food comes from,鈥� Bankester said. 鈥淐onversely, children are open to new experiences. If we can expose them early to fresh, locally grown foods, they are more likely to develop an appreciation and fondness for these items.

鈥淚f we can highlight the connection between the food on their plate, who grew it, and the work it takes to make that cycle possible, children, no matter their age, are able to develop both an appreciation for and connection to the community members growing and providing food for us.鈥�   

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