MARCH 2026
Our Nutrition Department is comprised of our Miami-Dade County Public Schools is proud to be participating in Wellness Wednesdays serving healthy foods & promoting the importance of nutrition education!
Corn is considered a grain, fruit & vegetable
The U.S. is the LARGEST producer, consumer & exporter of corn in the world.
Humans only eat sweet corn
An ear of corn ALWAYS of land can produce of sweet corn.
Corn is grown on EVERY continent except Antarctica.
There are around 800 kernels on each ear of corn. field crop.
In many other countries, corn is called “maize
1 corn stalk produces 1 - 3 ears of corn
Corn stalks can grow between 7 – 10 feet tall.
Fiber supports movement through the digestive system
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate doesn’t digest, it simply passes through.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water…it helps regulate blood sugar levels and cholesterol from 2 types of fiber:
Insoluble fiber is sometimes referred to as “roughage. ”
1. Soluble fiber
Insoluble fiber
Dairy & meat products do not have any fiber.
Fiber helps to regulate the body’s use of sugar.
BOTH forms of fiber are important & beneficial to overall health. in plant foods.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water…it helps food move throughout the digestive system.
Green beans are kidney beans that are harvested at a young age.
Green beans taste best when they are thinner than a pencil.
Green beans are the 3rd most homegrown vegetable
Bush & pole are the 2 main types of green beans. 130+ varieties of green beans.
Green beans are also known as string or snap beans.
Calcium supports healthy bones as well as proper blood
Calcium is the most abundant chemical element in the Earth’s crust.
99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones
blood, muscles & other tissues. muscles
Calcium helps form bones and teeth and keep them healthy. heart health.
Calcium helps to heal cuts & wounds.
Calcium is the MOST abundant mineral in the human body.
Oranges are a type of citrus fruit known for their sweet, juicy pulp & leathery rind
1. Navel
2. Hamlin
3. Valencia
oranges are There are over 600 varieties of oranges.
One orange tree can grow THOUSANDS oranges in its lifetime! = of orange juice!
Sub-tropical climates are ideal for growing oranges.
Vitamin C supports the immune systemthe body’s defense against infections.
Vitamin C is also referred to as “ascorbic acid.”
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances in the environment.
The body cannot make vitamin C on its own - it has to come from food.
Vitamin C helps keep you happy & healthy! What do you call a vitamin that improves your eyesight?
Vitamin C is a very important vitamin for healthy gums & teeth.
Tomatoes are considered to be both a fruit & a vegetable!
1. Cherry
2. Grape
3. Roma
MANY Americans grow tomatoes in their own garden.
12,000+ TONS of fresh market tomatoes are grown/year in the U.S.
Tomatoes take 60 - 100 days to grow from seed to fruit.
Botanically, tomatoes are a season crop that LOVE the sun.
Vitamin A supports good more vivid colors during the day
How far can you read down this eye chart?
Vitamin A has antioxidant properties.
Vitamin A can help speed up the healing process of cuts & scrapes.
Vitamin A supports immune system to fight off infections.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin – which means it absorbs better into the body when eaten with foods with some fat like avocados!
Lafayette and Okeechobee are Florida’s leading dairy counties.
Most of the dairy cows in Florida are Holsteins (the black and white cows), and their spots are unique like a fingerprint!
Cows chew their cud 50 times per minute.
How many times can chew in a minute?!
Cows can SEE almost and SMELL up to 6 miles away!
Most Florida dairy herds range 150 -
Florida dairy farmers byproducts such as citrus pulp, brewers’ grain and whole cottonseed that are consumed by the cows instead of ending up in landfills.
A Florida dairy cow produces about 68 gallons of milk each day.
provides a powerful package of support your overall health?
Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in dairy help build and maintain strong bones and teeth.
The high-quality protein found in dairy foods aids in building and repairing muscles.
B vitamins in dairy help convert food into fuel, ensuring you have the energy needed throughout the day.
Starting the day with a nutritious breakfast that includes dairy helps fuel learning!
