Smith STEM School Gets Salad Bar

Students at West Hartford's Florence E. Smith STEM School now have a new healthy lunch option, thanks to the Growing Great Schools organization which donated a salad bar to the elementary school.

Local chefs, including Hunter Morton, executive chef at Max Downtown and a West Hartford parent, have also contributed to the efforts to bring healthier options to the school lunchrooms. He will be helping serve at Smith's salad bar this Wednesday.

Morton and other chefs recently led a taste test of Caribbean-inspired healthy lunch options at the town's elementary schools, as part of Growing Great School's "Chef to School" initiative. Ten local chefs have been working in cooperation with West Hartford Nutrition Services to develop healthy lunch menu offerings.

Weekly salad bars have already been put into place at Bugbee, Duffy, Morley, and Wolcott, and the goal of Growing Great Schools is to have one in each of West Hartford's 11 elementary schools.

The mission of Growing Great Schools, which is a community-based organization, is to "create healthier schools by connecting food, culture, health, and the environment." The group hopes to empower students in West Hartford to become active partipants in their physical health as well as to practice good nutrition.

“About a year ago Growing Great Schools worked with the elementary school PTO’s to survey parents. We found that almost all of their desires for healthier school lunches with fresh fruits and vegetables could be met by providing salad bars,” said Sally Mancini, President of Growing Great Schools, in a news release.  

The offerings on the salad bar next week will include chicken, fresh veggies, black bean salsa, orzo salad and edamame. Students can also have whole grain bread, fruit, milk, and chicken minestrone soup – with a recipe courtesy of Billy Grant, owner of Bricco and Grant’s, who is also a participant in the "Chef to School" initiative. 

Other initiatives promoted by Growing Great Schools include student run farmers’ markets, schoolyard gardens, green teams, and fitness programs such as running clubs and healthy recess activities. 

For more information, visit www.growinggreatschools.org or contact the organization at info@growinggreatschools.org.