Take a Taste

DYK...Indiana is the #1 popcorn producer in the nation?!  Accordingly, the 2025 Indiana Food Day item is Corn! Corn provides our bodies with sustaining energy, fiber, and essential vitamins & minerals. As a very versatile crop, corn can be used in anything from breakfast corn bread muffins and grits to taco salads, salsas, chowders, or simply enjoyed straight off the cob!  To celebrate this important Indiana crop, all elementary cafeterias will be serving fresh, LOCAL corn on the cob on September 12th. POP on in for a taste! 

• Corn Activity Sheet
• Corn Coloring Page
• Corn Fact Sheet

This October 3rd, the cafeteria will be celebrating the Great Apple Crunch - a regional promotion taking place across all the Great Lakes states! This collective crunch encourages healthy eating and supports farm to school and local food initiatives throughout the Midwest Region.

Students will have the opportunity to sample a new variety of local apple, called the Rave Apple! Students will be able to experience its nice sweet and slightly tart flavor! Students who bring lunch from home will also have the opportunity to sample and engage in educational activities.

• Rave Apple Facts
• Apple Activity Sheet
• Apple Coloring Pages
• Apple Orchard Virtual Tour links

This month, the cafeteria will be sampling Candied Cranberries.  Cranberries are tiny, juicy and tart fruits; we've sweetened our just enough to taste like a sour candy and look like frosted winter berries. 

Cranberries are one of only three fruits commercially sold that are native to North America.  Indigenous people used them for food, clothing dye, and traditional medicine.  Cranberries are recognized for their whole-body health benefits.  Their high proanthocyanidin content helps contribute to a lower risk of developing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and other chronic diseases. 

Cranberries grow on low, woodly vines rooted in sandy, acidic beds often called bogs.  Farmers flood these beds during harvest.  Ripe berries have tiny air pockets inside them, allowing them to float on water and making it easier to gather them from the water's surface.

Come try some of these fascinating fruits in the elementary cafeterias! 

• Cranberry Activity Sheet
• Coloring Page

This February, we are celebrating National Hearth Health Month!  The elementary cafeterias will be preparing samples of Wild Blueberry Oatmeal Bars!  Wild Blueberries contain a purple-blue color pigment, called Anthocyanin, which helps protect the cardiovascular system.  Learn more about Wild Blueberries below!

• At-Home Activity Sheet (STEAM experiment included)
• Blueberry Puzzles
• Blueberries & Heart Health
• Blueberry Research

This September, the cafeteria will be celebrating the Great Apple Crunch - a regional promotion taking place across all the Great Lakes states! This collective crunch encourages healthy eating and supports farm to school and local food initiatives throughout the Midwest Region.

Students will have the opportunity to sample an array of local apple varieties and vote on their favorites! Students who bring lunch from home will also have the opportunity to sample and engage in educational activities.

Check out the activity sheet below to help guide your children in learning even more about apples at home! 

• Apple Activity Sheet
• Apple Coloring Pages

This October, the cafeteria will be celebrating Indiana Food Day. This year’s Indiana Food Day theme is focused on Pumpkins. Students will have the opportunity to sample our Pumpkin Energy Bites! Students who bring lunch from home will also have the opportunity to sample and engage in educational activities. Students will learn about the nutrients pumpkins can bring into their diet. These nutrients include fiber, vitamin A for regulating cell growth and immune support, the antioxidant beta-carotene, and potassium for balancing blood pressure and minerals. Don’t miss out on this GOURD time on October 29th!

Check out the activity sheet below to help guide your children in learning even more about pumpkins at home! 

• Pumpkin Activity Sheet
• Pumpkin Coloring Page

This November, the cafeteria will be roasting local Spaghetti Squash! All students will have the opportunity to sample the squash and engage in educational activities. Students will learn about the nutrients Spaghetti Squash can bring into their diet. These nutrients include fiber, vitamin A for regulating cell growth and immune support, the antioxidant beta-carotene, and potassium for balancing blood pressure and minerals.  Explore the endless PASTA-bilities to enjoy Spaghetti Squash in Elementary cafeterias on November 21st!

Check out the activity sheet below to help guide your children in learning even more about Spaghetti Squash at home! 

• Spaghetti Squash Activity Sheet

In honor of National Pear Month in December, the cafeteria will be sampling Cinnamon Cranberry Baked Pears! Try this PEAR-fect combination on Dec 19th! All students will have the opportunity to sample and engage in educational activities. Pears are among the most cultivated and most popular fruits in the world, and not just because they’re delicious. This humble little fruit supports a healthy heart and an active lifestyle.

• Pear Activity Sheet
• Pear Coloring Pages
• Pear Farm-to-School videos

February is National Heart Health Month! The cafeteria is spreading the love by serving samples of Blood Oranges on February 14th! These seasonal delights can help promote heart health because they are high in phytochemicals, fiber, magnesium, folate, vitamin C, and potassium. These nutrients work together to help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease and stroke. 

Students may also participate in nutrition education activities during lunch to learn how to Eat Smart for a Healthy Heart.  Click below to view link to additional resources and activites! What fun physical activities can you do as a family, and what healthy recipes can you create with your kids at home to instill lifelong healthy habits? View the calendar resource below to help you and your family Eat Smart & Move More this month!

• Blood Orange Student Activity Sheet
• Healthy Habits Calendar
• Parent & Student Heart Health Resources

Noblesville Schools is celebrating National Nutrition Month throughout March, embracing the 2024 theme, "Food Connects Us." This year's focus highlights the powerful role food plays in bringing people together, from family dinners to cultural celebrations. Sharing a meal creates a sense of community, strengthens bonds, and fosters lasting memories. Noblesville Schools recognizes the vital connection between nutrition and student success, understanding that access to healthy school meals contributes to improved health and academic performance. With each meal served, we are committed to promoting nutritious food choices and educating students about the importance of a balanced diet for their overall well-being. 

A HUGE Thank-You to all those who participated in our survey to help the cafeteria better connect with you and serve nutritious meals that you enjoy. By understanding your preferences, we can tailor school menus to better represent the needs of our school community.  Click to view a summary of the Survey Results!  You may also click to access the Recipe Submissions. Enjoy!

DID YOU KNOW...Eating school breakfast connects students to better health by providing essential nutrients that fuel their bodies and minds. This, in turn, fuels better academic performance by improving concentration, memory, and overall cognitive function, leading to increased learning potential and classroom success.

As part of National Nutrition Month, we will also be celebrating National School Breakfast Week in late March.  Noblesville Schools is committed to ensuring all students have access to a healthy breakfast, setting them up for success in the classroom and beyond.

To learn more about National Nutrition Month and the connection between food preferences, health, and school meals, please visit the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics website & the School Nutrition Association website.

Follow the links to our Nutrition Education page and Nutrition & Fitness page for resources on how Food Connects Us to a healthy lifestyle. 

Celebrate Earth Day by nourishing your body with plant-based foods! A plant-based diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, offers numerous health benefits. It's linked to a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and obestiy. These diets are typically lower in saturated fat and cholesterol while being higher in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can reduce inflammation and improve overall health. Additionally, plant-based eating can be more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

We will be celebtrating Earth Day in the elementary cafeterias on Friday, April 25! Students will have the opportunity to try roasted asparagus, a vegetable that looks like a "mini tree."  Check out the links below to learn more about asparagus!

• Asparagus Activity Sheet
• Virtual Asparagus Farm Visit - Meet Tom and Margaret Wise the farmers and owners of Wise Farms near Columbia City, Indiana to learn about how they grow asparagus!

“Winners Drink Milk” is considered one of the most iconic phrases and traditions in Indiana and all of sports. The tradition started at the Indianapolis 500® when driver Louis Meyer requested buttermilk to quench his thirst after the 1936 race. The Drink of Milk has since evolved from a thirst satisfying beverage to a ceremonial hand-off with an Indiana dairy farmer giving the iconic, glass bottle of milk to the winner. 

Not only does milk quench thirst, but it also helps provide essential nutrition.  Just like Indy 500 cars need fuel to race super fast and perform at peak, your body needs to be fueled with nutrients to help you grow strong and perform at your best! One serving of milk contains so many essential nutrients - 13 to be exact! - that your body needs to maintain optimal health.   So this month, celebrate the Indy 500 festivites with a cold, nourishing glass of milk!  

In the cafeteria, Elementary students will engage in several activities promoting milk nutrition and Indiana dairy farmers.  Below are some resources to learn more!

• 13 Ways Milk Can Help Your Body
• Milk Facts & Activity Sheet
• Milk Coloring Sheet
• Indy 500 Milk Maze

• May Virtual Farm Tour with Indy 500® Milk Person Kerry Estes

• IndyCar Driver Josef Newgarden visits Indiana dairy farm

• A Winning Tradition: The Bottle of Milk