A full year of fruits and vegetables

Child & Adult Care Food Program

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A full year of fruits and vegetables

Do you get tired of looking at the same menus that have green beans, corn, applesauce and peaches? If you aren’t tired of these foods yet, you probably will be at some point! Because there is such a variety of fruits and vegetables, you can really add new life to your menus by making use of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Did you like yogurt the first time you tried it? You may have liked the taste from the beginning but not everyone does. Introducing new food is the same with children. You may have to serve it several times before a child will even try it. Remember that the older children get, the more likely they are to refuse an unfamiliar food. Introducing new foods while a child is still young is very important.

Introducing fruits and vegetables presents an opportunity for the child to learn. Children may enjoy feeling the difference between a fuzzy kiwi, a smooth tomato or a rough cantaloupe. If you covered their eyes could they tell the difference? What about all the colors of different fruits and vegetables such as eggplant, plums, zucchini, beets, parsnips, raspberries and pumpkins? Think of the many different ways that fruits and vegetables can be used in other activities you are planning with your children.

The following is a list of months in which certain fruits and vegetables are most readily available. Keep this handy when you are planning menus.

January : apples, grapefruit, kiwi, nectarines, peaches, pineapple, plums, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, green peppers, jicama, spinach

February : apples, grapefruit, nectarines, oranges, peaches, pineapple, plums, tomatoes, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, green peppers, radishes, spinach

March : apples, grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon, broccoli, cabbage, corn, lettuce, peas, radishes

April : apples, honeydew, oranges, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon, broccoli, cabbage, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, green peppers, radishes

May : apples, cantaloupe, grapes, honeydew, melons, oranges, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, green peppers, radishes

June : apricots, cantaloupe, cherries, grapes, honeydew, kiwi melons, nectarines, papaya, peaches, pineapple, plums, watermelon, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, jicama, lettuce, peas, spinach, summer squash

July : blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, grapes, honeydew, kiwi, melons, nectarines, papaya, peaches, pineapple, plums, tomatoes, beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, jicama, lettuce, peas, spinach, summer squash

August : blueberries, cantaloupe, grapes, honeydew, melons, nectarines, papaya, peaches, pineapple, plums, tomatoes, spinach, summer squash

September : apples, blueberries, grapes, honeydew, papaya, pineapple, plums, tomatoes, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, green peppers

October : apples, grapes, plums, tomatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, green peppers

November : apples, grapes, oranges, plums, strawberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, green peppers, jicama, sweet potatoes

December : apples, grapefruit, grapes, kiwi, oranges, pineapple, plums, tomatoes, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn jicama, lettuce, sweet potatoes.

Updated August 8, 2017 5:07pm