US: Pineapple, apple top list of children’s favorite fruits

Sweet, succulent, sticky - what is it about pineapples?

"Well, they're just really good," said Jayden Kay, a fourth-grader at McKinley Elementary School.

Pineapple is by far the most popular item in a snack program that serves fresh fruits and vegetables to students at eight Billings elementary schools.

"It's exotic," said Bert Reyes, the principal at McKinley.

The spiny yellow fruit is new to some children, and most of them quickly embrace it.

That's the idea behind the snack program, which introduces kids at McKinley, Miles Avenue, Washington, Ponderosa, Newman, Orchard, Broadwater and Bench elementaries to healthy foods they might not get elsewhere.

"Once they've tried them and gotten used to the textures and flavors, they look forward to the snacks," said Lori Booke, principal at Ponderosa. "We want them to learn to eat raw fruits and vegetables. They don't always get the opportunity at home."

Some families cannot afford fresh foods, while others choose not to eat them.

Some $172,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture pay for the Montana school snacks, which include apples, carrots, oranges, celery, grapes and bananas.


Source: billingsgazette.com

Publication date: 11/2/2009

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