October FFVP Educational Slides

1. October FFVP Educational Slides These slides are for displaying as students enjoy their FFVP snacks during the month of October! 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.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 these FFVP slides

2. Plums are stone fruits that grow on trees. They are related to peaches, nectarines, and apricots. Plums can have green, yellow, red, or purple skin. Some plums grow in Minnesota, but not many. PLUM • Good source of vitamin C to aid our bodies in absorbing calcium • Good source of vitamin Ato maintain eye health • Dried plums are called prunes • Plums do not get sweeter after being picked • China produces most of the world’s plums What dried fruits have you tried or seen? How were they different from fresh fruits? There are two types of plums – Japanese and European plums. Japanese plums came from China. We don’t know where the first European plum grew.

3. 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. GREEN BELL PEPPER • 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 • Peppers can be put into two groups: sweet or hot • Red, orange, or yellow peppers are green peppers that were left on the plant long enough to change color! Peppers have more nutrients once they are fully ripe. Which pepper has more nutrients – a green pepper or a red pepper? Peppers originated in Mexico and Central and South America. Christopher Columbus loaded his ships with many pepper when he returned to Spain. Soon peppers were popular throughout Europe.

4. Cantaloupe are sweet fruits that grow on vines. Minnesota cantaloupe are ripe in August and September. CANTALOUPE • 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 got its name from Cantalupo, Italy • In Australia, people call cantaloupe “rockmelon” • Another name for cantaloupe is muskmelon 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? Cantaloupe originated in the Middle East or India. Ancient Egyptians and Romans enjoyed growing and eating cantaloupe.

5. Plums are stone fruits that grow on trees. They are related to peaches, nectarines, and apricots. Plums can have green, yellow, red, or purple skin. Some plums grow in Minnesota, but not many. PLUM • Good source of vitamin C to aid our bodies in absorbing calcium • Good source of vitamin Ato maintain eye health • Dried plums are called prunes • Plums do not get sweeter after being picked • China produces most of the world’s plums What dried fruits have you tried or seen? How were they different from fresh fruits? There are two types of plums – Japanese and European plums. Japanese plums came from China. We don’t know where the first European plum grew.

6. Jicama (pronounced HEE-ka-mah) that we eat is the root of a long plant that grows along the ground (a vine). JICAMA • Has lots of good fiber to aid with digestion • Good source of vitamin C to boost the immune system • Good source of potassium to help nerves and muscles communicate Jicama has many different names – yacón, yacuma, arboloco, Mexican potato, Mexican yam bean, and leaf cup. Can you match the American vegetable name with the British vegetable name? aubergine rutabaga rocket bell pepper capsicum zucchini swede eggplant beetroot beet courgette arugula Jicama belongs to the potato family. It has been growing in Mexico and Central America for centuries.

7. 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. CARROT • 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) • Carrots are related to fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips • Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called beta carotene. What other orange vegetables can you list? Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow!

8. 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. PINEAPPLE • 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 got their name because people thought they looked like pine cones • In the Caribbean, pineapple crowns outside a home mean friendship and welcome What makes a tropical climate different from our climate in Minnesota? What other plants grow well in tropical climates? 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.

9. 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. RED GRAPES • Good source of fiber to help with digestion • Good source of potassium, which can help prevent muscle cramps during exercise • Good source of Vitamin C which helps the body fight off infections • Grapes are about 80% water! • There are grapes growing on every continent except Antarctica What do you called a dried grape? What other foods can we process grapes into? Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. People were growing grapes over 8,000 years ago!

10. 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. BROCCOLI • 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 • 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. 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? 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.

11. 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. CARROT • 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) • Carrots are related to fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips • Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called beta carotene. What other orange vegetables can you list? Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow!

12. 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. CAULIFLOWER • 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 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. Find the Mediterranean Sea on a map. What continents touch the Mediterranean Sea? What Asian countries border the Mediterranean Sea? Cauliflower was first grown in Asia around the Mediterranean Sea. The word cauliflower comes from the Latin floris meaning flower and caulis meaning stalk.

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

14. Jicama (pronounced HEE-ka-mah) that we eat is the root of a long plant that grows along the ground (a vine). JICAMA • Has lots of good fiber to aid with digestion • Good source of vitamin C to boost the immune system • Good source of potassium to help nerves and muscles communicate Jicama has many different names – yacón, yacuma, arboloco, Mexican potato, Mexican yam bean, and leaf cup. Can you match the American vegetable name with the British vegetable name? aubergine rutabaga rocket bell pepper capsicum zucchini swede eggplant beetroot beet courgette arugula Jicama belongs to the potato family. It has been growing in Mexico and Central America for centuries.

15. Kiwifruits are fruits that grow on vines in bunches. A few cold-hardy varieties of kiwi can be grown in Minnesota, but they typically prefer warmer climates. KIWI • Kiwi have lots of nutrients - copper, zinc, and potassium as well as twice the vitamin C of an orange! • Kiwi seeds are edible and contain lots of Vitamin E, which is good for your blood Kiwis used to be called Chinese gooseberries but in the 1960s, when they started being shipped to the US, people began using kiwi because the fuzzy, brown fruits reminded them of the kiwi bird. How would you describe a kiwi? What are its colors? Does it have seeds? What is the fruit like - juicy, tangy, crunchy, sour, squishy, sweet? People in China were eating kiwi over 700 years ago. The Chinese word for kiwi is Yang Tao, meaning “sunny peach”

16. 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. PURPLE CAULIFLOWER • 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 The purple color in purple cauliflower is caused by the presence of the antioxidant group anthocyanins, which can also be found in red cabbage and grapes. Cauliflower is a member of the family of plants called Brassicas, belonging to the family Brassicaceae. What are some of the other vegetables we eat from this family of plants? Cauliflower was first grown in Asia around the Mediterranean Sea. The word cauliflower comes from the Latin floris meaning flower and caulis meaning stalk.

17. Cantaloupe are sweet fruits that grow on vines. Minnesota cantaloupe are ripe in August and September. CANTALOUPE • 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 got its name from Cantalupo, Italy • In Australia, people call cantaloupe “rockmelon” • Another name for cantaloupe is muskmelon 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? Cantaloupe originated in the Middle East or India. Ancient Egyptians and Romans enjoyed growing and eating cantaloupe.

18. 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. RED GRAPES • Good source of fiber to help with digestion • Good source of potassium, which can help prevent muscle cramps during exercise • Good source of Vitamin C which helps the body fight off infections • Grapes are about 80% water! • There are grapes growing on every continent except Antarctica What do you called a dried grape? What other foods can we process grapes into? Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. People were growing grapes over 8,000 years ago!

19. 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. CARROT • 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) • Carrots are related to fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips • Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called beta carotene. What other orange vegetables can you list? Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow!

20. 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. PINEAPPLE • 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 got their name because people thought they looked like pine cones • In the Caribbean, pineapple crowns outside a home mean friendship and welcome What makes a tropical climate different from our climate in Minnesota? What other plants grow well in tropical climates? 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.

21. 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. BLACK GRAPES • Good source of fiber to help with digestion • Good source of potassium, which can help prevent muscle cramps during exercise • Good source of Vitamin C which helps the body fight off infections • Grapes are about 80% water! • There are grapes growing on every continent except Antarctica What do you called a dried grape? What other foods can we process grapes into? Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. People were growing grapes over 8,000 years ago!

22. Bell peppers are vegetables that grow on small, bush-like plants. Fresh Minnesota peppers can be found in the months of July, August and September. RED BELL PEPPER • 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 • Peppers can be put into two groups – sweet or hot peppers • Red, orange, or yellow peppers are green peppers left on the plant long enough to ripen and change color! Peppers have more nutrients once they are fully ripe. Which pepper has more nutrients – a green pepper or a red pepper? Peppers originated in Mexico and Central and South America. Christopher Columbus loaded his ships with many pepper when he returned to Spain. Soon peppers were popular throughout Europe.

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

24. Cantaloupe are sweet fruits that grow on vines. Minnesota cantaloupe are ripe in August and September. CANTALOUPE • 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 got its name from Cantalupo, Italy • In Australia, people call cantaloupe “rockmelon” • Another name for cantaloupe is muskmelon 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? Cantaloupe originated in the Middle East or India. Ancient Egyptians and Romans enjoyed growing and eating cantaloupe.

25. 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. GRAPE TOMATO • Tomatoes conatinthe 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 • The name tomato has its roots in the Aztec word tomatl • The heaviest tomato ever grown was almost 8 pounds! Tomatoes are an important ingredient in many of our favorite foods. Can you name some of the foods that use tomatoes as ingredients? 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.