WINSTON-SALEM, NC — The USDA Food and Nutrition Service says 4.6 billion school lunches were served in the United States last year.
What You Need To Know
- Mood Boost is a nationwide initiative in elementary and middle schools
- The program introduces students to how food affects their moods and bodies
- Mood Boost will be in schools for several weeks with new recipes in the cafeteria and lessons in the classroom
- The moods being shown in the program are Strong, Alert, Happy, Calm, Smart and Confident
Schools in Winston-Salem are taking part in a nationwide initiative through Chartwells, a school meal provider, called Mood Boost.
The program is designed to teach kids about different foods and how foods make you feel and is relaunching in schools after the program ended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is a really great program that is done by our dietitians and our culinary team to focus on how foods really change our moods. We know that food does affect how we act, how we feel, how we perform in school. And so it’s a great opportunity at a lower level just to talk to kids about how that what they’re putting in their bodies really affects what they’re going to do and how they’re going to act, especially in school settings,” said Katie Willard, Chartwells-WS/FCS Community Engagement & Marketing Specialist.
Students giving a thumbs-up after trying the Mood Boost Alert recipe. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)
The program will be featured in different elementary and middle schools for several weeks. Highlighting six monsters, called “Moodies,” that represent the feelings of Strong, Alert, Happy, Calm, Smart and Confident. Along with the foods that help your body feel that way.
“We want to emphasize that if we’re eating the right things, eating the, you know, the spectrum of vegetables and fruits that’s eating that in its entirety will be able to help improve your mood and keep doing it,” said Miguel Castaneda the Resident Dietitian working with Mood Boost.
Students at Easton Elementary in Winston-Salem sampled an Alert mood recipe of chocolate, raspberries and basil.
“Both dark chocolate and raspberries are high in antioxidants, so it’s improving blood flow to the brain, increasing oxygen in the brain and reducing oxidative stress in the brain,” Castaneda said.
Besides the numerous benefits the students will gain from eating the flavor combinations, some students tried new food for the first time and learned more about what they ate.
“What we see a lot in our schools and a lot with the students is there’s not a lot of exposure until these new products, like a lot of kids don’t know the difference between a zucchini and a cucumber or they’ve never had fresh fruit,” Castaneda said.
Through the week, the “Moodies” monsters being highlighted will hang out in the cafeteria line helping indicate to the students what mood they can feel if they eat it. With simple recipes being offered for students such as orange glazed carrots, to feel alert.
“Their understanding with how food and their mind and their body have a relationship. You know, so if I try new foods, maybe it helps my brain work better. Maybe I feel a little stronger. You know, maybe it’s easier to get out of bed in the morning,” he said.
The Alert “Moodies” monster at the lunch line at Easton Elementary. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)
“Just the relationship between how I feel and how I eat. There’s a really strong comparison between the two,” Castaneda said.
Students will also have classroom lessons on the “Moodies” and were able to take home recipe cards.
“It’s about incorporating them into your lifestyle and incorporating all the foods that we’re going to represent in our program about eating, the rainbow, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and eating them as fresh as you can. But overall, that combined impact will really you’ll notice a significant difference in your mood,” Castaneda said.
Some of the other “Moodies” combinations are cherry and spinach salad for calm, strawberry avocado smoothie for confident and citrus chickpea salad happy.