Food Program Teaches Students To Eat Their Greens

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Learning to love vegetables. Hundreds of elementary school students are learning to eat their greens by preparing them themselves.

Andrea Fujii has more on a food program inspired by chef Julia Child.

Many fourth-graders at Barclay Elementary have never cooked, and for Martha Reyes it's the first time she's ever eaten a vegetable.

"I mostly don't really eat salads because I never tried vegetables before," said Reyes.

That's why the "Days of Taste" program exists. It was inspired by chef Julia Child and teaches students how to make healthy food taste good.

"There are so many other options and so many other wonderful flavors," said chef John Shields.

Shields is one of many local chefs who have visited 22 schools in the spring and fall in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County.

This is the culmination of a three-week program.

Last week the kids went to a local farm where they got to see where the ingredients come from. Last but not least, they learn how to prepare the food.  They're also making a dressing for their salads.

"Days of Taste" has been visiting schools for 13 years, and organizers say students use what they learn.

"They took these recipes and these ingredients back home, and their brothers and sisters liked them and they started making salads," said Shields.

That's what Reyes plans to do. She is excited about a new type of food.

"I like it because it makes me grow, and it's good for you," she said.

The program is free to all students and is sponsored by the American Institute of Wine and Food.  At the end of the program all students must promise they'll try all vegetables at least twice.