September 24-28, 2007
September 24-28, 2007
Join schools and families nationwide in an exciting new initiative this fall in support of Fruits & Veggies-More Matters™ Month!
P.A.C.K. Week:
Pack Assorted Colors for Kids Week, September 24-28, 2007, is a new national healthy-eating initiative to encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetables while at school. This fun and educational program is in support of Fruits & Veggies-More Matters™ Month (September 2007).·
Educational materials will help kids learn about the importance of eating more colorful fruits and veggies for good health. (Educators: click here for downloadable materials)·
The focus of P.A.C.K. Week is on eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, as each has its own nutritional benefits. To get the broadest range of nutrients, all colors are important - purple, white, red, yellow, orange and green. And kids love eating the rainbow!·
Each day of P.A.C.K. Week has been assigned a different color, and parents/guardians will be encouraged to send their children to school with a fruit or vegetable for lunch or snack from the designated color group each day. The colors for each day of P.A.C.K. Week are:·
Since all forms count - fresh, dried, canned, frozen and 100% juice - it is easier than ever to include more fruits and vegetables in children's diets.Here's more information on the daily colors for P.A.C.K. Week:
Monday, September 24: Pack Purple Day
Did you know that only 3% of our current fruit and veggie consumption is from
the purple/blue category? Yet, these fruits and veggies provide natural plant
nutrients not found in other colors.
A child-friendly way to "pack purple" is with 100% grape juice made from
Concord grapes. It is available year-round and just four ounces counts as a
serving of fruit. Here are some other purple/blue fruits that you can include in
your child's lunchbox on Pack Purple Day: plums
blueberries blackberries
raisins purple
grapes
Tuesday, September 25: Pack White Day
White, tan and brown fruits and veggies make up this color category, which
accounts for 23% of our fruit and vegetable consumption.
The most common white fruit is the banana…and they're easy to pack. Here are some other fruits and veggies your kids might enjoy on Pack White Day: pears white peaches dates cauliflower florets
Wednesday, September 26: Pack Red Day
Red fruits and vegetables account for 24% of our fruit and vegetable intake.
The most common red produce item is one that may take you back to your own school days: red apples. You could send your children to school with a red apple on Pack Red Day, or consider any of the following:
cherries strawberries
red pepper slices tomato wedges
Thursday, September 27: Pack Yellow/Orange Day
Yellow/Orange fruits and vegetables account for 24% of our fruit and vegetable
intake.
The most common yellow/orange fruit is the orange, and there are many varieties to choose from. Your kids may also enjoy one of these fruits or veggies on Pack Yellow/Orange Day:
baby carrots nectarines
peaches
yellow pears dried apricots
pineapple chunks
Friday, September 28: Pack Green Day
Green fruits and vegetables are the most commonly eaten, accounting for 26% of
our fruit and vegetable consumption…but there's always room for more!
Green grapes and green apples are kid favorites, and they're easy to send to school on Pack Green Day. Here are some other delicious fruits and veggies to consider:
celery sticks green pepper
slices snow peas
sugar snap peas broccoli florets
kiwi slices
Welch's is a member of the Produce for Better Health Foundation and is proud to sponsor this program. For more information on Fruits & Veggies-More Matters, click here.