Students crunch and munch local apples

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Students at St. Agnes Catholic School bit into locally grown Johnny Mac apples for the Great Big Crunch event Thursday afternoon, sponsored by the Chatham-Kent Student Nutrition Program. From left is Chase Brown, Samantha Colyer, Avery St. Pierre, Gabriel St. Pierre and Breona Summerfield with the nutrition program mascot Oatey-Ottie Oatmeal Bear.
Students at St. Agnes Catholic School bit into locally grown Johnny Mac apples for the Great Big Crunch event Thursday afternoon, sponsored by the Chatham-Kent Student Nutrition Program. From left is Chase Brown, Samantha Colyer, Avery St. Pierre, Gabriel St. Pierre and Breona Summerfield with the nutrition program mascot Oatey-Ottie Oatmeal Bear.

For the fifth year, students across Chatham-Kent made their moms and dentists happy by munching on local apples for the Great Big Crunch event Thursday afternoon.

The Chatham-Kent Student Nutrition Program donated more than 13,000 locally grown apples to in excess of 45 schools for a nutritious afternoon snack. Last year, 12,000 students took part in the event.

Prodenchuk’s delivered the apples to the schools as part of the Big Crunch event which is funded by the Ministry of Child and Youth Services and the nutrition program.

“We are trying to encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables, especially local varieties, and this is a fun way to get them started,” said Elaine Lewis, co-ordinator of the program. “They can fuel up with healthy foods to improve their focus at school and to have better health for a lifetime.”

There are 50 school nutrition programs in Chatham-Kent. About 4,500 students enjoy a healthy breakfast, lunch or snack each day. A healthy start to the day helps students learn better, stay focused during class and enjoy better health, Lewis said.

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