Tempe Elementary Schools
Eat the Challenge: choose at least 3 colors of food from the salad bar.
E N J O Y !
Eat the Rainbow Challenge
Choose at colors of food from alad bar.
Enjoy !
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Strawberries | Bell Peppers | Pineapple | Kiwifruit
Cucumbers | Blueberries | Purple Cauliflower
Strawberries
Strawberries are a type of aggregate fruit a collection of ‘little fruits’ held together.
Strawberries are a part of the rose family.
Strawberries are the FIRST fruit to ripen in the spring.
Peak strawberry harvesting season is April - June.
1. June-bearing 2. Ever-bearing 3. Day-neutral strawberry has 200 seeds.
Strawberries are the ONLY fruit with seeds on the outside.
90% of the strawberries grown in the U.S. are from California.
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.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are technically fruits - they are grown from a flower & contain seeds
Bell peppers can be 2 to 6 inches long.
Bell peppers are in the same family as tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes.
Bell peppers are a very popular type of pepper.
The bell pepper is ONLY member of the pepper family does NOT produce capsaicin
Red bell peppers are also known as sweet peppers.
long they ripen.
The longer bell peppers ripen, the sweeter they get.
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.
B vitamins plays a role in serotonin production.
The body cannot store most B vitamins, so they need to be regularly consumed.
Serotonin makes us feel happy
Pineapple
“Hala Kahiki”
It can take up to 3 years for a pineapple plant to fully mature before it begins bearing fruit.
Then, it takes up to a year for the actual pineapple to grow.
Pineapples are in peak season from March - July.
Specifically, pineapples are considered to be a type of berry. 1/3 of the world’s pineapples are grown in Hawai’i.
Pineapples are a type of tropical fruit. of clusters of “fruitlets. ”
Some pineapple plants can live for 50 years. “Fruitlets” are basically small, individual berries.
ONE pineapple plant produces only ONE pineapple at a time.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A supports good immunity
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 of cuts & scrapes.
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!
Kiwifruit
Kiwifruit is a type of true berry – a type of berry that grows from one singular flower
98% of all kiwifruit grown in the U.S. comes from California.
ONE
MILLION TONS of kiwifruit is
growing season of 240 days.
Kiwifruits grow on vines that can reach up to 33 feet long.
Kiwifruit vines can produce fruit for 25+ years.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant & supports the immune system.
Antioxidants help protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances in the environment. These harmful substances are called free radicals.
Vitamin E was discovered in 1922.
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Fat soluble vitamins are best absorbed into the body when eaten with foods with healthy fats.
Vitamin E supports proper blood function - circulation, clotting & production.
Vitamin E also helps to maintain healthy skin.
Examples of healthy fats include olive oil, avocados & eggs.
.
Vitamin E helps to strengthen the immune system.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are technically fruits since they are grown from a flower & contain seeds.
There are over 100 different types cucumbers.
1 vine can produce 25 - 125 cucumbers. of cucumbers comes from the seeds.
World Cucumber Day is June 14th!
Cucumbers grow on
Vitamin K
Vitamin K supports proper blood function, bone growth & kidney health. The body has the ability to create vitamin K on its own.
2 main forms of vitamin K: K1 and K2.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble which means…
Vitamin K helps the body heal from wounds.
It absorbs better into the body when eaten with foods with some fat like olive oil or avocados!
Vitamin K helps produce proteins that bind themselves to calcium - this helps build strong bones.
Vitamin K supports heart health .
Vitamin K is found throughout the body in the liver, brain, heart, pancreas & bones.
Vitamin K plays a role in proper blood function- specifically with clotting.
Blueberries
Blueberries are a type of fruit known for their mildly tarte taste.
Types of Blueberries:
The U.S. is home to around 102,000 acres of blueberries.
Blueberries are native to North America.
4 JULY is National Blueberry Month!
Highbush blueberries are the most common.
The waxy coating on blueberries is called “bloom.”
1 blueberry bush can produce 6,000 blueberries/year.
Blueberries are one the only food naturally blue in color.
Lowbush blueberries are smaller & sweeterperfect for making jam!
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
2 types of fiber:
1. Soluble fiber
2. Insoluble fiber
Insoluble fiber is sometimes referred to as “roughage. ”
Fiber helps to regulate the body’s use of sugar.
BOTH forms of fiber are important & beneficial to overall health. ONLY found in plant foods.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water…it helps food move throughout the digestive system.
Dairy & meat products do not have any fiber.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a type of cruciferous vegetable.
The BIGGER head, the BIGGER
Cauliflower is most commonly white, but can also be purple, green, orange, brown & yellow
Cauliflower is a cool-season crop.
Cauliflower typically takes 75 - 85 days to grow from seed to harvest ready.
cauliflower is known to have a sweeter taste than varieties of cauliflower.
Most cauliflower plants grow to 1.5 - 2.5 feet tall.
called cabbage flower.”
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
Potassium helps to regulate the heart rate
Potassium helps to regulate contractions.
Potassium is the THIRD most abundant mineral potassium is found in
The body is made 60% helps promote .
Many runners eat foods high in potassium before a run to prevent muscle cramps.
