Houston Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables
for September
We all know it’s back to school time and time to think about healthy family meals and snacks worked into a busy school schedule, after school activities, sports, and parents’ work. Planning is the key to having healthy foods available at home, so they are easy to “grab” and go. What’s there and ready to eat will be “grabbed” so let’s make it healthy choices.
In order that you can have adequate servings of fruits and vegetables (5-9 daily); buy and prepare local seasonal produce. Try to make this a daily goal.
Have your kids pick out two or three fruits and veggies daily to have ready to add to after school snacks and packed lunches. Make it a goal to have a seasonal fruit and veggie with each snack and meal. Plus try at least one of the veggies at mealtimes. How about a spaghetti squash? Yes, it really does look like spaghetti, and it is delicious and fun to eat. Break the normal routine and try new veggies
How about posting the fruits and veggies of the month and plan meals and snacks with those seasonal items? The goal is to try all on the list for the month. You can post the list monthly and have lots of variety throughout the year.
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July 15, 2021 Healthy Choices Grant Awardees:
YES Prep Brays Oaks
Donald Leonetti Elementary, Fort Bend ISD
Zavala Elementary, Ector County ISD
Upcoming Events and Grants
Oliver Healthy Choices Grants
Next Grant Deadline October 15, 2021
Additional Grant Opportunities
Reaching for Excellence Grant Application Opens September 1, 2021
Starting September 1, 2021, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will be accepting applications for the Reaching for Excellence (RFE) in Texas School Health FY2023 Grant. Two RFE grants are available that will fund up to $10,000 (in reimbursement funds) for a district level or school campus project that focuses on nutrition education, physical education, or injury prevention. A district can only receive one grant. To learn more, sign up for a live webinar on Sept. 9, 2021, at 11:30 a.m., or Sept. 16, 2021, at 3:00 p.m.
Children’s Healthy Learning Environments in Low-income and/or Minority Communities Grant
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications for the Children’s Healthy Learning Environments in Low-income and/or Minority Communities grants. These grants provide funding to organizations to support school- and/or childcare center-based capacity building projects. Projects must take place in schools and/or childcare centers that are in minority or low-income communities and/or primarily serve student populations that are minority or low-income. Applications are due September 10, 2021. Learn more and apply for the EPA grant.
Schools — Register Today for the October Farm Fresh Challenge
TDA has the resources schools need to bring the fun and excitement of local foods to Texas students during the October Farm Fresh Challenge. The challenge is open to any Texas school operating the National School Lunch Program, Seamless Summer Option or Summer Food Service Program for the 2021-2022 school year. Schools earn TDA recognition by meeting the challenge parameters — Eat Local, Teach Local, and Be Social. Visit Squaremeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge to learn more or pledge participation in the October Farm Fresh Challenge!
Texas Action for Healthy Kids Webinars
Re-Re-Opening Schools – What will This Year Look Like?
Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, 11:30am (CST)|12:30pm (ET) 10:30 (MT) 9:30 (PT)
School year 2020-2021 brought remote learning, hybrid learning, free school meals, innovative approaches to teaching, and lots of stress! What will this year hold? How are districts approaching the upcoming school year? Join us as we visit with district administrators and staff about their ideas and plans to keep kids healthy, active and ready to learn. Register here
How Districts are Addressing The New Physical Education and Health TEKS
Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, 11:30am (CST)|12:30pm (ET) 10:30 (MT) 9:30 (PT)
Join us as a panel of district physical education leaders will share insights on how Texas school districts will be addressing new health and physical education TEKs and incorporating them into curriculum development, training, and instructional delivery. Register here
Laws Passed during 87th Legislative Session and How They Impact Child Health and Your School Health Advisory Council Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 11:30am (CST)| 12:30pm (ET) 10:30 (MT) 9:30 (PT)
What do the new laws mean for your district and your children? Some are supportive of school health but others will be challenging. Join us as we discuss new legislation and how you and your district School Health Advisory Council can approach these new rules. Register here
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Oliver Foundation Teen Advisory Board
Newly Elected Officers for 2021-2022
President: Mehaa Amirthalingam
Vice President: Katherine Jhang
Secretary: Mia Price
Treasurer: Hannah DeLoit
Co-Event Coordinators: Anshumi Jhaveri and Olivia Doan
Co-Community Outreach & Social Media Coordinators: Nick Bhasin and Alexander Farahbod
Welcome Teen Advisory Board New Members 2021-2022
Sophia Chon, Sydney Chon, Jenna Chuan, Shepherd Hirtz, Kayla Katina,
Natalie Lopez, Reagan Miller, Sid Satish and Lily Trevino
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Meet the Oliver Teen Advisory Board
The Oliver Foundation Teen Advisory Board is a 12-20 member organization represented by students across the Houston area. Each month you'll meet a different member who will share their perspective on living a healthy life.
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Alexander Farahbod, Board Member
The Kinkaid School - Houston, Texas
Teen Board Member 2020 - Present
Alexander is a junior at The Kinkaid School. He is a member of the debate team, swims competitively year-round with the Dad’s Club as well as on Kinkaid’s varsity team. In addition, he is a member of the Wellness Committee, Debate Club, Math Club, and Community Service Leadership Council. Alexander has also made High Academic Honor Roll and Citizenship Honor Roll every year at Kinkaid. Alexander enjoys volunteering at Plant It Forward, Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston Food Bank, and with the Special Olympics. During his free time, Alexander enjoys being a life guard, coaching young swimmers, playing piano, and spending time with his family.
Staying at Your Best During School
As summer draws to a close and the school year approaches (even though we don’t fully know what school will look like), you may experience times when it is difficult to perform at your best. While making this transition from summer to school, it's important to shake off any bad habits that have developed over the past few months. I find it especially difficult to readjust my sleep schedule, improve my diet, and feel more organized after the long summer break.
Sleep - I find it helpful to have a set time for when I go to bed and wake up (at least 8 hours apart); this builds a consistent schedule that your body will naturally get used to, making it easier to fall asleep and will help you be less tired when you wake up. Maintaining that pattern is one of the best things that you can do to get enough sleep during the summer and prevent any rough adjustments when summer break ends and school resumes. Another thing I find helpful is not using any electronic devices at least 30 minutes before I go to bed, allowing me to feel more alert in the morning due to less blue light exposure.
Balanced diet - As a multi-sport athlete, maintaining a healthy balance of key nutrients like calcium, iron, fiber, and vitamins are essential. It’s easiest to just start off the day with a healthy and nutritious breakfast—an omelet with healthy vegetables and protein paired with some avocado on toast (my personal favorite), oatmeal with berries and granola, or a smoothie with milk, yogurt, fruits, oats, and flax seeds. All of these are great ways to supply your body with energy for the morning. Even when eating lunch and dinner, make sure to choose some vegetables along with your protein and carbohydrates. Sometimes, I just like to try something new and will order a foreign vegetable—who knows it might be your new favorite vegetable!
Organization - As a high schooler, it’s sometimes hard to keep organized. Handouts, tests, quizzes, projects, and a lot more can easily start getting piled up. Trying to work on your organization in general is a great way to feel productive. I like to make sure my desk is clean, so I know where everything is, and I can complete my assignments without the distraction of a messy learning environment. Just having a place for everything and making sure it’s organized helps many people complete tasks more efficiently and feel better.
Alexander Farahbod
September 2021
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Teen Board Recipe
Olivia Doan
Co-Event Coordinator
Back to School Granola Bars
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 12 bars
Ingredients
1 and ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
¾ cup sliced almonds
⅓ cup maple syrup (or honey)
3 tablespoons butter, unsalted
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 F.
In a medium saucepan, combine maple syrup, butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt over medium-low heat. Cook and stir until smooth and until butter melts and sugar dissolves.
In a medium bowl, combine oats and almonds. Pour liquid mixture over the oats and honey and stir to combine. Let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes.
Add cranberries and chocolate chips. Stir to combine.
Transfer mixture to a parchment-lined 9" x 9" casserole dish or baking tray and firmly press mixture into the pan using a spatula or the back of a glass. Make sure it is packed very tightly.
Bake for 20-25 minutes (add more time for crunchier granola bars).
Cool completely in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and cut into bars.
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The Oliver Foundation
5535 Memorial Drive
Suite F, #256
Houston, TX 77007
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