Albuquerque Public Schools
APS Promotes Healthy Eating at Community Event
Food & Nutrition Services shares nutrition tips while giving families a preview of fresh menu items coming to APS schools this fall.
Albuquerque Public Schools' Food & Nutrition Services team recently joined community partners to promote healthy eating during the Food is Medicine event, hosted by the NAACP Albuquerque Branch and UNM Hospital.
The event brought together families for a day focused on health and wellness, featuring free produce boxes filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, cooking demonstrations, health vendors, community resources and family-friendly activities.
Food & Nutrition Services Executive Director Marie Johnson represented APS with a presentation on the importance of fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet. During her talk, she encouraged attendees to take on three simple challenges:
- Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day
- Enjoy fruits and vegetables in their natural form whenever possible, using minimal heat to help preserve nutrients
- Eat the rainbow by choosing a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables that support different healthy functions throughout the body
Johnson also shared copies of APS' new farm-fresh pico de gallo recipe, giving families a preview of one of the fresh menu items students can look forward to when school begins.
The recipe reflects the direction of APS Food & Nutrition Services as the department continues expanding its menu with more scratch-made meals featuring locally sourced ingredients and culturally relevant flavors. These efforts are designed to provide students with nutritious, appealing meals while introducing them to fresh, wholesome foods.
By sharing recipes and nutrition education at community events like Food is Medicine, APS is helping families build healthy habits beyond the classroom and creating excitement for the new menu options students will enjoy during the upcoming school year.