The mission of the SSAISD Nutrition Services Department is to contribute to a student's learning experience by providing good quality, nutritious meals while promoting good nutrition and a healthy eating environment.
SSAISD’s Nutrition Services Department is proud to offer nutrition & agriculture education that helps students LEARN MORE about what’s on their lunch tray, where it came from & why its good for them!
Milk | Lettuce | Oranges | Cilantro
Grapefruit | Zucchini | Squash | Apples
Oak Farms
True Harvest & Trinity Ranch Vitamin C Iron Potassium
Texas produces more than billion pounds of milk per year.
Texas is ranked 5th in the nation for milk production.
70% of dairy farms in Texas are located the panhandle.
Cows:
Ayrshire
Brown Swiss
Guernsey
Holstein
Jersey
ALL 50 states have dairy farms! 98% of U.S. dairy farms are family owned & operated.
Milking Shorthorn
Holstein cows all have a unique pattern of spots!
1 cow produces around 6 gallons of milk per day. Milk is the source of ALL dairy products!
Cows can SEE almost 360 degrees and SMELL up to 6 miles away!
Oak Farms
Oak Farms is a cooperative of three family-owned & operated dairy farms.
Oak Farms is a 100% farmer-owned brand of Dairy Farmers of America.
Oak Farms has created a legacy of quality, tradition & wholesome goodness. Sherwyn Wood Dairy is located in Stephenville, Texas.
Cow comfort is Oak Farms’ #1 priority.
Blue Bonnet Dairy & Blue Jay Dairy are located in Dublin, TX.
The family owned & operated dairy farms that make up Oak Farms are Blue Bonnet Dairy, Blue Jay Dairy & Sherwyn
Lettuce
A lot of the lettuce grown in Texas is grown in greenhouses to allow for year-round production.
Lettuce plants grow to be 6 - 12 inches tall.
3.
4.
Lettuce grows best in cooler climates.
Iceberg lettuce (aka crisphead) is the most popular type of lettuce in the U.S.
2. Crisphead
Looseleaf
Romaine
True Harvest Trinity Ranch and
In addition to lettuce, Trinity Ranch also grows cucumbers
The lettuce served at South San Antonio ISD is from True Harvest Trinity Ranch
True Harvest & Trinity Ranch are both hydroponic farms
True Harvest is located in Belton, TX.
Trinity Ranch is located in Seguin, TX.
Hydroponics is a way of farming in which crops are grown in nutrient rich water rather than soil.
True Harvest is committed to sustainability with their zerowaste program.
Oranges
Oranges are a type of for its sweet, juicy pulp
Popular Types of Oranges:
Navel
Hamlin 3. Valencia
600+ varieties of oranges.
Orange season is 9 months long… October - June!
are juiced.
Sub-tropical areas have ideal climate for growing oranges.
Most oranges are harvested by hand.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports the immune systemthe body’s defense against infections.
ENERGY booster!
Vitamin C is also referred to as “ascorbic acid.”
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances in the environment.
The body cannot make vitamin C on its own - it has to come from food.
Vitamin C helps keep you happy & healthy! What do you call a vitamin that improves your eyesight?
A Vitamin C!
Vitamin C is a very important vitamin for healthy gums & teeth.
Cilantro
Cilantro is a type of commonly added to food to enhance flavor.
Cilantro prefers to grow in full sun.
Cilantro is usually ready to harvest only 3 – 4 weeks after planting.
Cilantro seeds are called “coriander.” Most people either LOVE or HATE the taste of cilantro.
Cilantro is most commonly eaten fresh, not cooked.
Cilantro can grow
Cilantro is used in cooking all around the world
Cilantro grows best in cooler weather during the spring and fall
Vitamin A
Vitamin A supports good vision, growth & immunity
Vitamin A helps see better at night more vivid colors during the day
How far can you read down this eye chart?
Vitamin A has antioxidant properties.
Vitamin A can help speed up the healing process of cuts & scrapes.
immune system
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin – which means it absorbs better into the body when eaten with foods with some fat like avocados!
Grapefruit
Grapefruits are known for having a slightly bitter
yellow,
Ruby Red, Star Ruby & Rio Red are some of the most popular types of grapefruit.
In the U.S. there are
Grapefruits grow in clusters…like grapes!
Grapefruit trees take 13 months
“The
Iron
Iron carries oxygen in the blood, supports the immune system & proper brain function
2 forms of iron: Heme & Non-heme.
Heme comes from animal meat and is easily absorbed into the body after eaten. comes from plant foodslike spinach!
Iron is found in EVERY cell of the body.
Non-heme sources of iron are absorbed into the body when eaten with a source of vitamin C, like an orange.
Iron helps muscles function by carrying oxygen to their cells.
Supports a healthy immune system.
Human blood is RED because of iron and oxygen reacting with each other.
The body uses iron to make hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin helps carry and transport oxygen in the blood to other parts of the body…like a backpack! is composed of iron.
Zucchini
Zucchini are one of the most popular types of squash
Zucchinis have MORE potassium than a banana.
Zucchinis grow best in temperate climates.
1 zucchini plant can produce 3 - 10 pounds of zucchini.
More specifically, zucchini is a type of summer squash.
Zucchini are made water.
Zucchini are a type of “Courgette”
Zucchinis are in peak season from May - August.
edible and considered a delicacy.
The LARGEST zucchini ever grown was 69.5 inches long and weighed 65 pounds!
Fiber
Fiber supports movement through the digestive system
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate body doesn’t digest; it simply passes through.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water…it helps regulate blood sugar levels and removes cholesterol from
Insoluble fiber is sometimes referred to as “roughage. ”
2 types of fiber:
1. Soluble fiber
Insoluble fiber
Fiber is ONLY found in plant foods.
Dairy & meat products do not have any fiber.
Fiber helps to regulate the body’s use of sugar.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water…it helps food move throughout the digestive system.
BOTH forms of fiber are important & beneficial to overall health.
Squash
Squash are a type of fruit because they grown on vines & have seeds
TWO
types of squash: W I N T E R
Examples of winter squash are pumpkins, acorn & butternut.
Winter squash has much harder skin (rind) than summer squash.
Squash require a lot of water to grow.
Examples of summer squash are zucchini, yellow & scallop.
Summer squash grows faster than winter squash.
1 acre of land can grow around 11,000 squash! Squash are
The flower of squash plants are edible and considered a delicacy
B Vitamins
B Vitamins help support the body’s energy levels, brain function & cell metabolism
essential B vitamins:
Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5,
Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B9 & Vitamin B12.
Water is needed to help the body absorb B vitamins.
B5, B12, C and E knock on your door…what do you do? blood cells.
B vitamins helps the body make energy from food.
The body cannot store most B vitamins, so they need to be regularly consumed.
B vitamins plays a role in serotonin production.
Serotonin makes us feel happy
Apples
Apples are one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. The U.S. is home to approximately of apple orchards. of the Most Popular Varieties of Apples:
Red Delicious
Golden Delicious
Most apples apples are
2,500+ There are
Most apples are HAND-PICKED. An apple blossom is the flower that comes from an apple tree. different varieties of apples are grown in the U.S.
Apple trees take 4- 8 years to start producing fruit.
Potassium
Potassium supports balancing fluid in the body & proper function of the muscles and nerves.
Once potassium enters the body, it functions as an electrolyte.
Electrolytes help amount of water in the body.
Helps to keep the body
The body is made 60%
Potassium helps to regulate the
Potassium helps bone
Potassium is the THIRD most abundant mineral potassium is found in
Many runners eat foods high in potassium like apples before a run to prevent muscle cramps. Potassium helps to regulate contractions.
