Root Coleslaw

Root Coleslaw

This March, students received a Harvest of the Month box filled with roots from Coke Farm in Watsonville.  Each box had a variety of carrots, turnips and radishes.  The radishes were perfect for grating with our new graters!  Students in nutrition grated the turnips and carrots to make a ravishing root coleslaw.  See the recipe below to recreate the tasty treat at home.

Ravishing Root Coleslaw

Ingredients

*1 turnip grated

*2 large carrots grated

*1 green apple grated

*1/2 small cabbage thinly sliced

*1 lemon juiced

*2 tablespoons agave nectar

Preparation

Add all the ingredients to a bowl and serve fresh.  Enjoy!

Student grating a carrot

Students grating a green apple

Student grating a trunp

Student juicing a lemon

Seeds and Trail Mix

Seed matching game

Seeds are a great source of protein and nutrients.  This March the 2^nd- 4^th graders learned about pollination, fruits and seeds.  The students had a fun time playing a matching game.  Students were challenged to match a bowl of seeds with the plant or tree the seed came from.  Afterwards, students added seeds and fruit together to make a sweet and convenient snack pack.  The bags of trail mix were seen everywhere around Bay View. Students enjoyed their snack at lunch, after school and at recess.  Add the ingredients below to a Ziploc bag to share these scrumptious seeds with your family.

Trail Mix

Ingredients:

*1/4 cup coconut

*1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

*1/4 cup sunflower seeds

*1/4 cup granola

*1/4 cup cranberries

*1/4 cup banana chips

Instructions:

Add all the ingredients to a bag.  Shake the bag and save for a snack later.

Students adding Pumpkin seeds to the trail mix

Bags of trail mix

Cilantro Pesto

Cilantro pesto ready to be blended

This month students in 5^th grade learned about whole and processed foods.  Students compared and contrasted the sugar and sodium levels in whole foods and processed foods. They were astonishing how much more sugar and sodium existed in highly processed foods.  Not all processed foods are bad.  Processing food simply means to change a whole food by cooking it or adding ingredients to it. To show students some processed foods can be low in sodium and sugar, students made their own homemade cilantro pesto.  Cilantro pesto is a great addition to quesadillas, pasta and even pizza.  Our cilantro pesto had only had 5 ingredients. Students learned processed food could be tasty and healthy. Yet, to ensure the safety of your processed foods, check to make sure the ingredient list is short and has whole ingredients.  Second, make sure the sodium and sugar levels are low.  The best way to enjoy processed foods is to make it at home.  I recommend starting with the cilantro pesto with the recipe below.

Ingredients:

*1 bunch chopped cilantro, stems removed.

*2 cloves garlic

*1 cup olive oil

*1/2 cup sunflower seeds

*1/2 grated parmesan

*2 limes juiced

Instructions:

Add all the ingredients to the blender.  Blend and serve over cooked whole wheat pasta.

Chopping cilantro

Juicing limes

Grating Parmesan

Students adding the ingredients to the olive oil and sunflower seeds.

The finished product.

Fruit Trees and Scarecows

The brilliant blooms of our Peach tree!

The first week in March brought sunny skies and warm temperatures.  The warmth created a burst of color in the garden as the fruit trees started to bloom.  Our amazing interns Eliza and Justine also created the first scarecrow in our Scarecrow Crew, our latest garden project.  We were also able to finish labeling our insect signs for our Rainbow Rot Zone.  The back of the garden is now fully ready for the building of our new greenhouse!  Thanks Sue!

The Plum tree in full bloom.

The buds on the Apple tree.

 

 

Pretty pink flowers on the Nectarine tree.

The Fava Beans are growing up tall around the Nectarine tree.

The completed Rainbow Rot Zone

Sally, the first scarecrow to the Scarecrow Crew!

Citrus Smoothies

 

This February Bay View classroom received a Harvest of the Month box overflowing with citrus.  Classrooms tasted Navel Oranges, Grapefruit, and Blood Oranges.  The Kindergarten classes were inspired to make the beautiful citrus art pictured above. 

In 5^th grade, we celebrated citrus by making a sensational citrus smoothie.  The smoothie was easy to make. Students even said rivaled their favorite smoothies at Jamba Juice. A citrus smoothie is a great breakfast for a busy morning.  Simply make the smoothie the night before.  Put the smoothie in a jar and grab it on your way out the door.  Your student can enjoy the smoothie while walking or riding to school.

Students adding their juiced clementines to the blender.

Ingredients:

*1½ cup of frozen mangos

*1 cup plain yogurt

*2 tablespoons honey

*1 cup orange juice

*3 Clementines juiced

Instructions:

Add all the ingredients to a blender.  Blend and serve.