Getting children to eat their vegetables can be a challenge for many adults. The “Veggie U” program which
is growing in popularity is finding some success as demonstrated at the Community Learning Centers in
Wood County this summer.
The program at Crim Elementary kicked off this week as the students planted squash. Additional vegetables
will be grown as the program continues.
Vinny Snyder said the program is tailored for elementary students and teaches them about gardening and
nutrition.
“This is a hands-on activity which helps them learn where food comes from and hopefully how to make
healthy choices,” Snyder said.
Among those involved with the planting were three sisters, Hala, Nadia and Jenna Jabri.
Hala, age 7, said “I really liked planting the seed into the compost and soil.”
She explained they first had to mix the soil and the compost together before actually planting the seed.

Nadia, 8, said she had never planted squash nor eaten squash before so she was looking forward to seeing
it grow.
When asked how big she thought her squash would be, she accurately analyzed, “There are many different
kinds of squash so I’m no quite sure how big it will get.”
Older sister, Jenna, 12, is a veteran of this program having participated last year as well. She also has
helped her grandmother in her garden at home.
“Last year I really enjoyed trying all the new vegetables,” she said.
She noted she really liked trying the various varieties of carrots which came in multiple colors.
“It was kind of interesting. They all tasted the same. There wasn’t a difference in the flavor,” Jenna
said.
Like most boys, Lane Bechstein, 11, enjoyed the gritty aspects.
He first mentioned, “We had to play with the dirt, it was really fun.”
He said he has helped plant various vegetables at home as well.
“We just put the soil and the seeds into the pots so it was easy,” Lane said.
Megan Dulaney, 9, said she also helps with the garden at home where they have a variety of fruits and
vegetables including broccoli, tomatoes, corn and strawberries.
“I help dad and pick the strawberries, wash them and give them to everyone,” she said.
She added that at home she and her dad start many of the vegetables in plastic cups and label them so
they get started before they transfer them to the ground.
Grant Richards, 10, said he likes the Veggie U program because its all indoors. He also likes it because
he has the opportunity to plant new and different things and to taste them.
“At my dad’s we planted a lot of things. But it was outside and the critters got them. This is inside so
you don’t have all those critters like raccoons trying to get into them.”
Snyder said the Wood County Health District is the source for this program as it provides the kits. The
district uses money from a grant from the Ohio Department of Health.
He said this was the second consecutive year for the center to offer this program with the participants
last year really enjoying tasting new vegetables.
“Hopefully they will make better food choices if they discover they like the vegetables,” Snyder said.