The start of the new school year means rethinking new ways to keep students healthy.
One Central Georgia school system is providing healthier food choices.
In this Healthy Living, I’ll show you how they're exposing students to the health benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Nine months after President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law, Central Georgia children are chowing down on healthier, more nutritious lunches.

Dr Cleta Long /School Nutrition Director: The public and parents and school nutrition people have said we want to make our meals a lot more healthy. As a result you are seeing a lot of changes in the school lunch program.

Bibb County School Nutrition Director Dr Cleta Long says the district is trying to teach children to be more healthy eaters. The principal at Ingram Pye says That means brown rice, edamame, kiwi and other fresh fruits and veggies are now a welcome addition to the lunch menu.

Mary Sams,/Principal Ingram Pye Elementary School: I think it is very good to introduce those things at such a young age. It helps them to form good habits that they will keep on to their adult life.

We are trying to teach children to be healthy eaters. We do that by modeling. Every day when they come to the cafeteria when they see fruits and vegetables, they see whole grains, they have foods they like and enjoy, they are learning to eat more healthy.

The district is also partnering with community health works to find new ways to combat the obesity problem. Community Health Works provides HealthTeacher, a web based online health, wellness and prevention education resources.

Mary Sams,/Principal Ingram Pye Elementary School: We have the farm to school program, we are trying to expand that we are looking at that and incorporating that into our menus on a monthly basis.

Along with the fresh fruit and vegetables program, five schools have received school grants for school gardens that will provide an edible education. Educators hope it’s a nutrition lesson that will last a lifetime.

It is going to affect everyone. As you know we have a lot of diseases and illnesses in the community, it impacts everyone. So this is going to be good. Our children are going to be knowledgeable about what to eat. and they will be much smarter.

You can help play a part in your child's nutrition choices.

Log on to http://www.schoolmenu.com and we'll link you to school menus for the Bibb County School System.