Praise for O-A's Lunch Programs

12/11/2012 (Updated 12/12/2012 3:48:50 PM)

APALACHIN -- The Owego and Apalachin Elementary Schools received a heaping of praise for their school lunch program.

The schools won the healthier U.S School Challenge award for their commitment to nutrition and physical education. The district said it has made a conscious effort to add more fresh fruits and vegetables to it's lunch menu, feeling the increased costs are worth it. 

The students are starting to understand the benefits as well.

"So you can get strong and you're healthy and you can do things instead of not doing anything," said Hunter Sisson, a 4th-grader at the Apalachin Elementary school.

"Sometimes if you get lots of the bad foods you might not be as healthy or get as tall," said Hannah Wilt, a 4th-grader at the Apalachin Elementary school.

"It's important to introduce these things at an early age, fresh fruits and vegetables they might not get otherwise," said Tom Nunn, Food Services Director for BOCES and Owego-Apalachin schools.

As part of the award each Owego and Apalachin Elementary school will receive $500.

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