FRESHEALTH Brings New Opportunities to Students with SnackTime Explorers
At FRESHEALTH, we believe our produce has the potential to be more than food, but a gateway to education, connection, and healthier communities. That is why we partnered with Pilot Light, a food education nonprofit, to bring food education to the districts we serve.
The results from this year’s first cohort have been nothing short of inspiring, as teachers, students, and communities embrace the transformative power of food education.
By providing high-quality fruits and vegetables to participating classrooms, we’ve been able to connect students with fresh food in meaningful ways while supporting educators in delivering dynamic lessons, because we know that teachers are the key to a successful FFVP program.
The results have been encouraging! Children are not only eating more fresh produce but are also learning about its origins, benefits, and cultural significance.
A Flavorful Start to the School Year
From the very first lesson, SnackTime Explorers sparked joy and curiosity among students and added engaging and multisensory experiences to their FFVP deliveries. One of the central aims of SnackTime Explorers is to encourage students to try new foods and rethink their preconceived notions, and our teachers reported seeing tremendous growth in their students’ willingness to engage with fresh produce:
"It’s important for children to broaden their food choices. I always tell my students, 'Take one bite. Just don’t assume you won’t like it,'" said one teacher, explaining how she always encouraged her students to take that first leap of faith with a new food.
"I've seen my students be motivated by food, and I see how it impacts them. I want to give them a basic understanding of food and empower their choices," a teacher responded when asked why she enjoyed having SnackTime Explorers in her classroom.
“…They were trying everything. After I did the lesson and videotaped it, I watched it and realized they were using this vocabulary and paying more attention to this food than I had thought,” another teacher admitted, illustrating how this program surprised her.
SnackTime Explorers helped kids surprise themselves. For example, during a food-tasting session, students explored new flavors with mixed reactions. One remarked, “The cauliflower tastes better than it looked,” while another disagreed, saying, “It has no taste,” and a third added, “I don’t like the way it feels in my mouth—it’s crumbly.” In another classroom the papaya, described as unlike anything they’d tasted before, sparked curiosity despite being unfamiliar. Reflecting on the experience, they agreed that trying new foods helped them better understand their likes and dislikes.
These moments of discovery aren’t just about taste—they’re about fostering a mindset of openness and curiosity that students can apply to many areas of their lives.
Supporting Educators Every Step of the Way
FRESHEALTH is committed to not only delivering fresh produce but also supporting the educators who make these lessons possible. For our customers’ convenience, we provide free downloadable resources on our website, including colorful produce posters, monthly FFVP calendars curated with seasonality in mind, and fun coloring pages. By becoming a SnackTime Explorer teacher, you gain community, support, and comprehensive lesson plans to help students engage with food in meaningful ways. Plus, our incredible team is always there for teachers when they have questions, ensuring they feel confident and supported every step of the way.
“I feel like I have a better graps of the school nutrition department now and see it as a resource. The lessons made a better impact than I imagined.””
“This program helped strengthen our classroom community. Students encouraged each other to try new things, which helped them grow closer.””
Transforming Access to Fresh Produce
For many students in FFVP recipient districts, access to fresh fruits and vegetables can be limited. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program ensures that classrooms participating in SnackTime Explorers have consistent access to a variety of high-quality produce. We provide monthly calendars for easy ordering and operate as a just-in-time processor, ensuring that schools have flexible options and receive produce that is always fresh.
Educators enrolled in our Fall cohort have noted how the consistency of SnackTime Explorers has shifted students’ perspectives. Several teachers have remarked how many students, once unaware of where their food comes from, are now excited to learn about the journey from farm to table. They have seen others grow more willing to try new produce and observed overall positive changes in attitudes and engagement. By introducing students to fresh, unfamiliar foods, FRESHEALTH is helping them explore new flavors and build lasting habits of healthy eating.
Building Communities Through Shared Experiences
During one of Pilot Light’s Professional Development workshops for our Fall Cohort, teachers reflected on their lessons and shared both successes and challenges. They highlighted the program’s profound impact on classroom dynamics, emphasizing how it has strengthened relationships and fostered a powerful sense of belonging among students.
The consensus across SnackTime Explorers districts is clear—this program strengthens classroom communities. As one teacher said: "This program brought us closer as a classroom. They encouraged each other to try new things, which strengthened our bond."
This collaboration extended beyond individual classrooms, creating connections across cultural backgrounds. Students proudly shared foods from their own cultures and traditions, using tastings as a way to teach their peers about their families and communities. One educator explained, "I love to create opportunities where students can represent their culture through food in my classroom."
The ripple effect of these shared experiences also reached families. Students excitedly brought home stories of the produce they tried, inspiring parents to explore new foods themselves.
Integrating Fresh Produce Into Everyday Learning
SnackTime Explorers made it easy for teachers to incorporate FRESHEALTH’s fruits and vegetables into lessons across subjects. For example, Lesson 2 explored the origins of tropical fruits like papaya and kumquats, while Lesson 3 delved into how apples and pumpkins grow.
One teacher described a lesson that took students on a virtual “trip” to Hawaii: "We showed them the distance between our school and Hawaii on a map, connecting the lesson to the tropical fruits we were tasting."
FRESHEALTH’s produce and Pilot Light’s lessons and materials also helped students expand their vocabulary and practice respectful communication. Students learned to express themselves thoughtfully, replacing words like “gross” or “yuck” with constructive phrases like “not for me, thanks.” These shifts in language encouraged respectful communication and opened the door for deeper discussions about food.
Christine Clarahan, Director of Food Service at Crown Point Community School Corporation, (interviewed in her former role as Director of Food & Nutrition Services at School City Hammond) tells us why she loved SnackTime Explorers for her classroom.
Shifting Perspectives on Food
For many students, SnackTime Explorers was their first introduction to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Teachers noted the transformative power of these experiences:
“I have a group that sometimes doesn’t like to do what they’re told, but surprisingly I haven’t had anyone that’s refused the fruits and vegetables. A lot of them were like ‘Yum that was good! Can we take some more home?’”
“This is something they can all get excited for together.”
"Having resources that show how food grows has been eye-opening for them. It’s made them more open to trying new things."
The program also instilled a sense of advocacy and confidence in students. In one classroom, a new student hesitated to try a snack, only to be met with a chorus of encouragement from her peers: "You have to try it! You can’t say no before you’ve given it a chance!" She ultimately tasted the food and discovered she liked it—a moment of triumph celebrated by everyone.
Join Us in Making a Difference
We’re proud to offer SnackTime Explorers to our partner districts, helping to make fresh produce a central part of education and community-building. By providing high-quality fruits and vegetables, we’re not just delivering food—we’re delivering opportunities for students to grow, learn, and thrive.
Are you interested in bringing fresh produce and transformative programs like SnackTime Explorers to your district? Let's connect! Schedule a meeting! Together, we can inspire healthier, happier, and more connected communities—one fresh fruit and vegetable at a time.
Visit us at School Nutrition Directors — SnackTime Explorers to learn more, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @dnoproduce.