The packet includes a series of five 22-minute videos to use in the classroom to educate students in Grades 2 through 5. Join Chef Jeff and the Kidchen Expeditioners as they journey to five Oklahoma farms exploring the wonders of growing fresh fruits and vegetables, how they are harvested and learning the nutritional benefits of the produce that compliment many science requirements. Through fun lessons and segments, the videos also show how to use fresh produce in simple recipes for snacks to prepare at home.  The filming took place in Oklahoma gardens, farms and kitchens to bring the viewers right to the sources of where the produce is grown and prepared. Oklahoma students, chefs, growers and farmers were used to bring the video stories alive and to make them fun for the intended audiences.

The Farm to School cookbook was developed especially for use in school kitchens, focusing on healthful recipes that incorporate Oklahoma-grown produce.  The low-sugar, low-sodium and low-fat recipes in the cookbook emphasize simple-to-prepare methods to make the most of fresh-grown Oklahoma produce —  from spinach, sweet potatoes and watermelon to cantaloupe, bell peppers and cucumbers. Most of the book’s recipes were provided by school foodservice experts who work in Oklahoma’s school kitchens. The recipes provide inspiration to prepare cost-efficient recipes which meet the new school lunch guidelines and offer healthy tastes students will be eager to enjoy.

The fun videos and colorful laminated cookbook are our way of celebrating all the wonderful and healthful fresh food grown right here in our state. We hope your students will enjoy the stories and information provided through the videos while incorporating the wonderful fresh foods in the school cafeteria.

All materials and videos are also made available via the Kidchen Expedition website at www.kidchenexpedition.com.

This educational project was funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was created through a partnership including the Oklahoma Farm to School Program within the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; the Oklahoma State Department of Health; the Oklahoma State Department of Education; and the Oklahoma Publishing Company.

For additional information about the videos or the cookbook, contact Cheri Long, Ag in the Classroom Coordinator,  Farm to School Program, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry,  2800 North Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK, 73105,  or call (405) 249-9234.