Hempstead Elementary School cafeteria was buzzing with excitement. The fifth-grade students were eagerly anticipating the inaugural Fifth Grade Farmers Market to celebrate Earth Day. The event was hosted by Hempstead ISD Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) and District Chef Carmela Pena.
The students were greeted by a vibrant display of fresh produce, grains, and fruits. Chef Pena was on hand to explain the different foods and their nutritional benefits, as well as where they are produced.
The students were excited to try new and exotic foods they had never tasted before, such as quinoa, lychee, kiwi, dates, and purple potatoes. Chef Pena encouraged the students to be adventurous and try everything, explaining that a colorful diet was essential for their health and
well-being.
The students eagerly sampled the various foods, and their taste buds were in for a treat. The quinoa cookies were nutty and flavorful, the lychee was sweet and juicy, and the kiwi was tart and refreshing. The dates were rich and chewy, and the purple potatoes were a surprising hit, with their earthy and slightly sweet flavor. As the students savored the different flavors and textures, they described to their classmates what each food reminded them of.
The students left with new knowledge about healthy eating. They were inspired to continue exploring new foods and to make choices that supported their own health and the health of the planet. For these fifth-graders, the inaugural Fifth Grade Farmers Market was not just a delicious meal, but a lesson in the power of food to connect us to each other and to the Earth.