1. MARCH FFVP Educational Slides These slides are for displaying as students enjoy their FFVP snacks during the month of December! Find discussion ideas and answers to questions in the “Notes” below each slide. If a mix of veggies is served for snack, you’ll find more than one slide for that day. GREEN is our theme color of the month! You’ll notice a green fruit or vegetable on Tuesday each week. Please note that the FFVP menu may change! More information available at: www.nutritionservices.mpls.k12.mn.us/ffvp Please contact Andrea Northup at andrea.northup@mpls.k12.mn.us with any questions or comments about the FFVP

2. Cantaloupe are sweet fruits that grow on vines. Minnesota cantaloupe are ripe in August and September. Cantaloupe got its name from Cantalupo, Italy In Australia, people call cantaloupe “rockmelon” Another name for cantaloupe is muskmelon Good source of vitamin C, which the body uses to heal itself and to strengthen blood vessels Has Vitamin A to promote healthy vision and skin High in folate which our body uses for cell growth. Cantaloupe originated in the Middle East or India. Ancient Egyptians and Romans enjoyed growing and eating cantaloupe. If one melon can be divided into 12 slices and each slice cut into 6 pieces, how many total pieces of melon would you have?

3. Sugar snap peas are a vegetable that is both pod and seed. They are a cross between a garden pea and a snow pea. Minnesotan-grown sugar snap peas are available in June and July. Edible pod peas, such as sugar snaps, have fibers that only go one direction, making them easier for us to chew Excellent source of dietary fiber to keep our intestines running smoothly Terrific protein source to give our muscles strength and our body energy Provide lots of vitamin C to boost our immune system Researchers don’t know for sure where peas were first grown, but they do know that people were eating peas almost 10,000 years ago! Open up a couple pea pods. How many peas do you count in your pods? What is the average number of peas in your pods? If you wanted to eat 30 peas, how many pods would you need?

4. Strawberries are a fruit that grows on small plants. They are the only fruit with their seeds on the outside of their skin! You can find fresh Minnesota strawberries in June and July. An average strawberry has 200 tiny seeds on it Native Americans used strawberries by pounding them into cornmeal bread, this is the origin of strawberry short cake. Great source of potassium High in magnesium for strong bones Good source of vitamin C for healthy body tissue Wild strawberries grew in Italy as far back as 243 BCE. The strawberries native to the Americas are bigger and sweeter than their European relatives. If a pint of strawberries has 12 berries and you buy 4 pints, how many berries do you have?

5. Jicama (pronounced HEE-ka-mah) that we eat is the root of a long plant that grows along the ground (a vine). Jicama has many different names – yacón, yacuma, arboloco, Mexican potato, Mexican yam bean, and leaf cup. Has lots of good fiber to help us digest our food Good source of vitamin C to boost the immune system Good source of potassium to help nerves and muscles communicate Jicama belongs to the potato family. It has been growing in Mexico and Central America for centuries. Can you match the American vegetable name with the British vegetable name? auberginerutabaga rocketbell pepper capsicumzucchini swedeeggplant beetrootbeet courgettearugula

6. A clementine is a type of citrus fruit that grows on trees. Like tangerines, they can only be harvested in late fall and winter, and only grow in warm climates. Clementines, as well as Tangerines and Satsumas, are all varieties of a mandarin orange. Provide thiamin and vitamin B6 which helps the body break down food for energy and brainpower Excellent source of vitamins A and C The Clementine was an accidental hybrid of a mandarin tree and was discovered in Algeria in the early 1900’s. Orange fruits contain lots of healthy vitamins and bio- flavonoids. What other orange fruits can you name? Clementines are seedless mandarin oranges. In order to “plant” more trees, a branch is grafted onto a root stock to make more Clementine trees!

7. Pineapples are groups of flowers whose fruitlets fuse around a central core. They grow on short- stemmed plants in tropical climates. In the United States, most pineapples are grown in Hawaii. Pineapples got their name because people thought they looked like pine cones In the Caribbean, pineapple crowns outside a home mean friendship and welcome Contain bromelian, an enzyme that may help to reduce joint pain High in manganese to build strong muscles and strong bones Good source of fiber to help with digestion Pineapples originated in Brazil and Uruguay. Native tribes ate them and spread them throughout the continent. Christopher Columbus brought the first pineapples back to Europe. What makes a tropical climate different from our climate in Minnesota? What other plants grow well in tropical climates? Bell peppers are a sweet vegetable that grow on small, bush-like plants. Fresh, Minnesota- grown peppers can be found in the months of July, August and September. Peppers can be put into two groups: sweet or hot Red, orange, or yellow peppers are green peppers left on the plant long enough to change color! With large amounts of vitamins A, C and E, peppers are wonderfully healthy for your skin and immune system Good source of fiber to aid our digestive system Contain folate to help build new cells The bell pepper has twice the amount of vitamin C as an orange! Peppers originated in Mexico and Central and South America. Christopher Columbus loaded his ships with many pepper when he returned to Spain. Soon peppers became popular throughout Europe. Peppers have more nutrients once they are fully ripe. Which pepper has more nutrients – a green pepper or a red pepper?

8. Broccoli are clusters of flowers buds (florets) which grow on stems. Each plant produces one head of broccoli. We harvest Minnesota broccoli from June through October. The name broccoli comes from the Latin word brachium, which means branch or arm Broccoli is in the same family of plants as cabbage and cauliflower. Broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients, sometimes called a Super Food! Has as much calcium per ounce as milk Good source of fiber, vitamins C, E, and K Good source of folate and iron to make your immune system and blood cells strong Broccoli has existed for more than 2,000 years and was first cultivated in Italy. In the 1900s Italian immigrants introduced broccoli to the United States when they planted it in their gardens. When we eat broccoli, we are actually eating the small, unopened flowers of the plant. Can you think of any other vegetable that is a flower?

9. A head of cauliflower is actually the immature flowers of the plant. In addition to white cauliflower, it can be purple, green or gold! In Minnesota, cauliflower is harvested from July to November. Because leaves cover the cauliflower buds and block out the sunlight, chlorophyll doesn’t form in the buds and this keeps the cauliflower white. In the picture, the leaves have been cut back. Full of vitamin C, fiber, and folate to keep our immune system and cells strong Contains a substance called indole which scientists think may help prevent certain types of cancer Cauliflower was first grown in Asia around the Mediterranean Sea. The word cauliflower comes from the Latin floris meaning flower and caulis meaning stalk. Find the Mediterranean Sea on a map. What continents touch the Mediterranean Sea? What Asian countries border the Mediterranean Sea?

10. Carrots are vegetables that grow underground as a taproot (the main root of a plant). We grow carrots in Minnesota. They are harvested in the late summer to early fall and can be stored throughout the winter months. Carrots are related to fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow! Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called beta carotene. What other orange vegetables can you list? The first carrots were grown as medicine because they have so many vitamins and minerals Best known for a high beta carotene, content - this helps keep our eyes, skin, bones, and teeth healthy (and makes carrots orange)

11. Cantaloupe are sweet fruits that grow on vines. Minnesota cantaloupe are ripe in August and September. Cantaloupe got its name from Cantalupo, Italy In Australia, people call cantaloupe “rockmelon” Another name for cantaloupe is muskmelon Good source of vitamin C, which the body uses to heal itself and to strengthen blood vessels Has Vitamin A to promote healthy vision and skin High in folate which our body uses for cell growth. Cantaloupe originated in the Middle East or India. Ancient Egyptians and Romans enjoyed growing and eating cantaloupe. If one melon can be divided into 12 slices and each slice cut into 6 pieces, how many total pieces of melon would you have?

12. Grapes are fruits that grow in bunches on vines. Grapes come in many colors – white, green, golden, red, purple, and black. Concord grapes are one of three fruits native to North America. Grapes grow in Minnesota and are ripe in late summer and fall. Grapes are about 80% water! There are grapes growing on every continent except Antarctica Packed with Vitamin C and other nutrients to keep you healthy Good source of fiber to help with digestion Good source of potassium, which can help prevent muscle cramps during exercise and fight infection Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. People were growing grapes over 8,000 years ago! What do you called a dried grape? What other foods can we make using grapes?

13. Oranges are a citrus fruit that grow on trees with thorns. Oranges do not grow in Minnesota. Florida produces 90% of the oranges grown in the United States. Navel oranges are named that because of the belly- button formation opposite the stem end. After chocolate & vanilla, orange is the world’s most popular flavor! A terrific source of vitamin C. In fact, oranges are the largest source of vitamin C for most Americans. Vitamin B6 to help our brains function. Oranges originated in Malaysia. Travelers and traders carried the fruit to Ancient Greece, Rome, the Middle East, and Africa. Columbus brought orange seeds to the Americas Do you remember the first time you tried an orange? When was it? Where was it? Who did you eat it with? What did it taste like?

14. Pineapples are groups of flowers whose fruitlets fuse around a central core. They grow on short- stemmed plants in tropical climates. In the United States, most pineapples are grown in Hawaii. Pineapples got their name because people thought they looked like pine cones In the Caribbean, pineapple crowns outside a home mean friendship and welcome Contain bromelian, an enzyme that may help to reduce joint pain High in manganese to build strong muscles and strong bones Good source of fiber to help with digestion Pineapples originated in Brazil and Uruguay. Native tribes ate them and spread them throughout the continent. Christopher Columbus brought the first pineapples back to Europe. What makes a tropical climate different from our climate in Minnesota? What other plants grow well in tropical climates?

15. Broccoflower is a type of green cauliflower. are clusters of flowers buds (florets) which grow on stems. Each plant produces one head of broccoli. We harvest Minnesota broccoli from June through October. This vegetable is more cauliflower than broccoli, and tastes sweeter than regular cauliflower It is a member of the cabbage group in the mustard family of plants Broccoflower has more Vitamin C than oranges, and more Vitamin A than Cauliflower OR Broccoli! Good source of folate and iron to make your immune system and blood cells strong It even provides 2g of protein in one cup! Broccoflower is a cross between broccoli and cauliflower that was first marketed in 1989. It looks like a green cauliflower, and tastes a lot like cauliflower, too! If left growing, the broccoflower will turn white. Do you think it’s fun to eat foods that are different colors? What other colors do you think would be neat to eat?

16. A tangelo is a type of citrus fruit that grows on trees. Like tangerines, they can only be harvested in late fall and winter, and only grow in warm climates. Minneolas tangelos were specially developed and released for commercial production from Florida in 1931. Provide thiamin and vitamin B6 which helps the body break down food for energy and brainpower Excellent source of vitamins A and C The Tangelo is most likely a cross between a Mandarin orange and the pummelo. It likely originated in southeastern Asia over 3,500 years ago. Orange fruits contain lots of healthy vitamins and bio- flavonoids. What other orange fruits can you name? Minneolas tend to be so juicy that you need to lean forward while eating. Tangelos have a distinct shape – almost like a pear, but they have a skin of an orange!

17. A head of cauliflower is actually the immature flowers of the plant. In addition to white cauliflower, it can be purple, green or gold! In Minnesota, cauliflower is harvested from July to November. Because leaves cover the cauliflower buds and block out the sunlight, chlorophyll doesn’t form in the buds and this keeps the cauliflower white. In the picture, the leaves have been cut back. Full of vitamin C, fiber, and folate to keep our immune system and cells strong Contains a substance called indole which scientists think may help prevent certain types of cancer Cauliflower was first grown in Asia around the Mediterranean Sea. The word cauliflower comes from the Latin floris meaning flower and caulis meaning stalk. Find the Mediterranean Sea on a map. What continents touch the Mediterranean Sea? What Asian countries border the Mediterranean Sea?

18. Bananas are a fruit that grows in bunches called hands. Each banana is called a finger. Although the banana plant looks like a tree, it is actually a giant herb! Bananas have been growing on earth for over 1 million years Types of bananas include dwarf bananas, red bananas, and plantains High in fiber to help your stomach feel full Full of potassium and vitamin C. Potassium helps our bodies balance fluids when we eat salty foods and vitamin C helps our immune system Bananas are from the Malaysian area of Southeast Asia. The banana was officially introduced to the US public at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial exhibition where it was wrapped in foil and sold for 10 cents! Bananas are a tropical fruit and need warm, humid conditions to grow. Brainstorm countries with a tropical climate and then listen to your teacher describe how a banana travels to get to our classroom.

19. Tomatoes are actually fruits that grow on plants (because they contain seeds) but we call them vegetables. Minnesota farmers grow many tomatoes, which are harvested from July through September. Grape tomatoes are a small variety of tomato. The name tomato has its roots in the Aztec word tomatl The heaviest tomato ever grown was almost 8 pounds! Tomatoes contain the antioxidants lutein, lycopene, and beta carotene, which may help to protect us against heart disease and cancer Good source of vitamin A and vitamin C to keep us healthy Tomatoes are native to Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. As far back as 2,000 years ago Aztecs and Mayas were growing tomatoes. Spanish explorers returned home with tomato seeds and introduced them to Europe. Tomatoes are an important ingredient in many of our favorite foods. Can you name some of the foods that use tomatoes as ingredients?

20. Honeydew is a type of melon. Melons grow on vines trailing along the ground. Honeydew likes warm, dry climates Egyptians considered honeydew a sacred food Has potassium to help your muscles when you exercise Good source of vitamin C to boost your immune system People believe honeydew was first found in Asia. It has been cultivated in the Middle East since ancient times. Melons and cucumbers are in the same plant family. What similarities and what differences can you think of between honeydew and cucumber?

21. Carrots are vegetables that grow underground as a taproot (the main root of a plant). We grow carrots in Minnesota. They are harvested in the late summer to early fall and can be stored throughout the winter months. Carrots are related to fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow! Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called beta carotene. What other orange vegetables can you list? The first carrots were grown as medicine because they have so many vitamins and minerals Best known for a high beta carotene, content - this helps keep our eyes, skin, bones, and teeth healthy (and makes carrots orange)

22. The head of cauliflower that we eat is actually the immature flowers of the plant. It’s typically white but can be purple, green or orange. In Minnesota, cauliflower is harvested from July to November. Orange cauliflower gets its color from beta-carotene Orange cauliflower is slightly sweeter than white cauliflower Orange cauliflower has more beta-carotene than white cauliflower. It helps the body eyes, skin, teeth and bones strong Also full of vitamin C, fiber, and folate to keep our immune system and cells strong Cauliflower was first grown in Asia around the Mediterranean Sea. The word cauliflower comes from the Latin floris meaning flower and caulis meaning stalk. Find the Mediterranean Sea on a map. What continents touch the Mediterranean Sea? What Asian countries border the Mediterranean Sea? Apples are fruits that grow on trees. Apples come in all shades of green, yellow and red. The apple served today is from Sekapp Orchard in Rochester, MN – just 90 miles from Minneapolis! Apples can float in water because they’re 25% air! Americans eat about 120 apples a year The University of Minnesota breeds apple varieties that are grown all over the world! Good source of vitamin C to help your immune system stay strong Great source of fiber to help with digestion, especially if you eat the skin The pilgrims brought apples to the United States. They planted the first apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Our apple today is a LOCAL apple, meaning it comes from a farm nearby. Why do you think we serve local apples from Minnesota, instead of apples from other far away parts of the country?