Discover Kale for National Farm to School Month
In October, Quality Care for Children and its partners celebrated kale as the Farm to ECE Harvest of the Month Vegetable and as the theme of this year’s National Farm to School Month! Despite being one of the most nutritious (and delicious!) vegetables, many young children have not had the opportunity to taste or learn about kale. Below you will find a variety of resources, recipes, and giveaways to help celebrate this month in a fun, educational, and delicious way with your early learning program!
Sign up to access FREE kale activities/resources from Georgia Organics, including:
Activities for Infants
Activities for Toddlers
Activities for Three year olds
Growing Kale (4-5 year olds)
Painting with Kale (4-5 year olds)
Super Hero Snack! (4-5 year olds)
Edible Colors (Pre- k)
How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Kale
Kickin’ it with Kale is a state-wide celebration in Georgia organized by Georgia Organics to get kids eating, growing and participating in kale-themed activities. Participants that sign up will receive free electronic resources to help you plan and implement your activities. Resources include standards-based lesson plans, quick activities, recipes, videos, school garden planting and harvesting information, and more. Stay tuned for more information about next year’s Farm to ECE Harvest of the Month Vegetable!
Kale Recipes
October is the perfect month to have your kids discover kale in new ways! Check out these tips for getting kids to eat (and enjoy!) kale as well as several sample recipes. And be sure to print out our taste test voting sheet to engage your children and gain feedback about how their taste preferences are developing. View more kid-friendly kale recipes at Produce For Kids and Today’s Parent.
Participating CACFP facilities need to ensure that servings meet the CACFP guidelines prior to preparation. Please refer to the USDA website for more details.
Social Media Giveaway!
As part of Kickin’ it with Kale month, Quality Care for Children gave away four $200 Kaplan gift cards and a FREE cooking demo by Chef Asata (bio below) at a child care program for children and their families! Congratulations and thank you to all of the programs that participated and shared their pictures and tips on social media this year!
Chef Asata
Asata Reid-Moss is a chef and health-educator who says, "As a busy mother and teacher I enjoy teaching people how to make quick, healthy, delicious recipes that the whole family can enjoy. Getting kids to eat their veggies is my superpower!” She is the Farm to ECE Chef Educator at Georgia Organics, and works to support Healthy Living programs at Kaiser Permanente. She holds a Masters in Education, Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas, and a Bachelors in Journalism from Florida A&M University. She is currently a Masters of Public Health candidate at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. She has been a professional chef for 18 years, and a health educator for over 12 years. Asata is a trained Diabetes Prevention Program Facilitator, as well as a certified Sleep Improvement Trainer and Smoking Cessation Facilitator. She is also a certified Community Doula, Stress Management Coach and Nutritionist. Chef Asata has taught her Cooking and Nutrition classes in an after school program for six years for kids in grades K-5. Eternally a culinarian, Chef Asata is a Cooking Matters Facilitator and proud member of Les Dames d’Escoffier.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
