November FFVP Educational Slides

November FFVP Educational Slides These slides are for displaying as students enjoy their FFVP snacks during the month of November! 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. Orange is our theme color of the month! You’ll notice an orange fruit or vegetable on Tuesday each week.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 the FFVP

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 and boost our immune system • Good source of Vitamin Ato maintain eye health • Dried plums are called prunes • China produces most of the world’s plums • Plums are in the rose family 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.

Butternut squash are a type of winter squash that grow on vines. We eat the flesh of the squash after the skin is peeled off and the seeds are scooped out. Typically we eat winter squash cooked but it’s good raw, too! Minnesota squash are harvested in September and October but we can store and enjoy them all winter long. BUTTERNUT SQUASH • Excellent source of beta-carotene, which our body converts to vitamin A. • Carotenoids, like Beta-carotene, gives butternut squash its orange color and helps our vision, bone growth and cells • As butternut squash ripens, it turns deeper orange and gets more sweet and flavorful. • Butternut squash is in the same family as pumpkins. • Other varieties of winter squash include buttercup, acorn, and spaghetti. Butternut squash have beautiful orange flesh. What other vegetables can you name that are the color orange? Which one is your favorite? How do you like to eat it? Squash originated in North America over 5,000 years ago. Squash, beans and corn (maize) are known as the three sisters and were planted together and honored as sacred foods by Native Americans.

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.

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. 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. GREEN BELL PEPPER PINEAPPLE • 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 • The bell pepper has twice the amount of vitamin C as an orange! • 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 • 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? What makes a tropical climate different from our climate in Minnesota? What other plants grow well in tropical climates? 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. 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.

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.

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 • Packed with Vitamin C and other nutrients to keep you healthy • Good source of fiber to help with digestion • Good source of potassium, which can help prevent muscle cramps during exercise and fight infection • 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 make using grapes? Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. People were growing grapes over 8,000 years ago!

Cantaloupe are sweet fruits that grow on vines. Minnesota cantaloupe are ripe in August and September. CANTALOUPE • Excellent 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.

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.

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 vegetables we eat that are flowers? 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.

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!

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.

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 help us digest our food • 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.

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.

The part of cauliflower we eat is actually the immature flowers of the plant that grow wrapped in the leaves. Cauliflower is typically white, but we’re trying orange cauliflower! In Minnesota, cauliflower is harvested from July to November. ORANGE CAULIFLOWER • Full of vitamin C, fiber, and folate to keep our immune system and cells strong • Contains beta carotene, which the body converts to Vitamin A to help keep our eyes, skin, teeth and bones healthy • Contains a substance called indole which scientists think may help prevent certain types of cancer • Orange cauliflower gets its coloring from beta carotene • Orange cauliflower actually has a sweeter flavor than white cauliflower Cauliflower is a vegetable that comes in multiple colors. What other vegetables can you think of that can be multiple colors? Cauliflower was first grown in Asia around the Mediterranean Sea. The word cauliflower comes from the Latin floris meaning flower and caulis meaning stalk.

The head of cauliflower that we eat is actually the immature flowers of the plant. It’s typically white but can be purple, green or orange. In Minnesota, cauliflower is harvested from July to November. Apples are fruits that grow on trees. Apples come in all shades of green, yellow and red. Fall is the best time to find ripe Minnesota apples, but they can store well into the winter months. ORANGE CAULIFLOWER APPLE • Orange cauliflower has more beta-carotene than white cauliflower. It helps the body eyes, skin, teeth and bones strong • Also full of vitamin C, fiber, and folate to keep our immune system and cells strong • Orange cauliflower gets its color from beta-carotene • Orange cauliflower is slightly sweeter than white cauliflower • Apples can float in water because they’re 25% air! • Americans eat about 120 apples a year • The University of Minnesota breeds apple varieties that are grown all over the world! • Good source of vitamin C to help your immune system stay strong • Great source of fiber to help with digestion, especially if you eat the skin John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, travelled the Ohio River Valley planting apple trees. Why do you think that planting apple trees was such a special gift? Find the Mediterranean Sea on a map. What continents touch the Mediterranean Sea? What Asian countries border the Mediterranean Sea? The pilgrims brought apples to the United States. They planted the first apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Cauliflower was first grown in Asia around the Mediterranean Sea. The word cauliflower comes from the Latin floris meaning flower and caulis meaning stalk.

Kiwi are fruits that grow on vines in bunches. Some people eat the kiwi skin, but most prefer to eat just the sweet flesh and edible seeds. 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.”

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 contain the 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.

Tangerines are a type of citrus fruit that grows on trees. Unlike other citrus fruits, mandarins can only be harvested in late fall and winter. They only grow in warm climates (so not Minnesota)! Tangerines, along with clementinesand satsumas are all varieties of mandarin oranges. TANGERINE • Provide thiamin and vitamin B6 which helps the body break down food for energy and brainpower • Excellent source of vitamins A and C to keep us from getting sick • The first tangerines were brought to Europe from Tangiers, Morocco in Africa, and that is why we call them tangerines • Clementines are tangerines without seeds! • Let’s say that each tangerine has 8 sections with 2 seeds in each section. If there are 30 students in your class with tangerines, how many total seeds are there? Mandarin oranges were so prized in ancient China that they were given the name mandarin, after the officials of the Imperial Court. The first tangerines were brought to Europe from Tangiers, Morocco in Africa, which is how they got their name.

November FFVP Educational Slides