Smithtown Elementary Students Take Big Healthy Crunch

On Friday, Oct. 24, Smithtown Elementary School students took a pledge and some big bites in favor of healthy eating habits as they participated in the Big Apple Crunch in conjunction with National Food Day.

The students were given apples, provided by the school PTA, to enjoy during their lunch periods.

Big Apple Crunch is a fun, participatory celebration and demonstration of healthy eating whereby businesses, schools, organizations and individuals come together to take part in a “crunch heard ’round the world,” some taking the crunch in symbolic unison. SES had about 400 participants in the crunch. The apples were brought in from home, but the cafeteria staff also provided apples as a snack. The event also ties in with the school’s healthy eating initiatives.

The Smithtown Elementary School PTA formed a health and wellness committee four years ago, and ever since has been conducting “Tasting Tuesdays” to allow students to try different fruit, vegetables and other healthy snacks.

“Each month during Tasting Tuesday, we offer students the opportunity to see what a certain fruit or vegetable would look like after it is harvested, and we talk to them about where it comes from,” said PTA President Jen Camilleri. “Often we ask them to take a guess too! Then they can try a sample. We send home nutrient information, health benefits and recipe options too. The students look forward to Tasting Tuesday each month. It’s always exciting to try something new!”

Photo courtesy of the Smithtown Central School District