Market changes have caused some farmers to grow less labor-intensive crops such as sod, Dixon said. Others have left the business. When our kids have basic living skills it's more likely they'll become successful adults. Dixon said the program also benefits Hastings Elementary teachers, providing new resources and reducing class preparation time. Bonnie Rowe, an employee of UF's St. Johns County Cooperative Extension Office, teaches all 14 FNP classes at the school, using a curriculum developed by the extension office.
Teachers love it when they hear students talking about nutrition at lunchtime.
We try to make the lessons fun, so good eating seems more like a game than a chore. She said teaching aids such as videos, plays and puppet shows capture the attention of younger children. To engage older students, she relies on food demonstrations where children sample healthy dishes, and sometimes help prepare them. To make hummus, a Middle Eastern chickpea dip, Rowe seals the ingredients in freezer bags and lets students mash the contents to a smooth consistency. Food demonstrations encourage students to taste new foods, she said.