Promoting healthy eating habits in local youth is a community-wide goal and the Stanislaus County Fair and Turlock Unified School District are once again partnering to encourage students to make good food choices.
This is the second year the Stanislaus County Fair has partnered with TUSD to launch the 20/20 Fruit & Veggie Contest. The contest began Monday and will reward students for their nutritional choices. Punch cards will be distributed to elementary students to keep track of their healthy eating choices. The intention of the partnership is to support healthy food choices by promoting access to fruits and vegetables.
“This partnership with TUSD child nutrition program has been successful in introducing innovative approaches to healthy, nutritional choices for young students throughout summer," said Adrenna Alkhas, spokesperson for the Stanislaus County Fair.
Each time a student chooses one fruit or vegetable option for their lunch for 20 days, the student will then receive a punch on their punch card. Once the student’s punch card is completed, they will be entered into a grand prize drawing. Four students from each elementary school in the Turlock Unified School District will be chosen to win either a Stanislaus County Fair Family 4-Pack (including ride tickets), a bicycle or other prizes.
“It is a great program, that was very successful last year, which is why we wanted to partner again with the Stanislaus County Fair to promote healthy eating habits to young students,” said Scott Soiseth, director of Child Nutrition at TUSD.
TUSD’s child nutritional program Real.Fresh.is committed to providing nutritional information that promotes children’s health by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. TUSD provides nutritional information on all menus, along with expanding their website to include resources that support healthy food choices through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Along with the 20/20 Fruit & Veggie Contest, the Fair is returning its fun and educational Kids Club. Kids Club members receive a chance to get educated at the Fair by filling out a passport book used to travel around the Fairgrounds and answer math, science, art, livestock and agricultural related questions. Children that are registered in the Kid’s Club program will receive a tote bag with great items from our sponsors, and will include two carnival ride tickets. Parents can sign up their kids through now at: http://stancofairkidsclub.com/parent-signup/
When children are finished answering all their passport questions, they can turn in the passport to the Information Booth at the Fair for a chance to win four tickets to Disneyland from KAT Country 103.
The 2016 Stanislaus County Fair opens July 8 for a 10-day run. Discounted Fair admission tickets, unlimited ride wristbands and the Fair season pass will be on sale beginning April 30. Visit the Fair’s website for upcoming ticket sale information at www.stancofair.com.
