Sneaking a Peak into the Lives of One KIPP Sharp Family

As a Program Coordinator, and fellow food enthusiast, I’ve built relationships with our families which has inspired me to share Valerie and Sandra’s story.  I asked Valerie how she would describe Brighter Bites to someone who has never heard of it before.  She said, “Brighter Bites is a program that my school puts on every year so people can get [fruits and] vegetables for free and live a healthy lifestyle.”  Valerie totally gets it!  The families at KIPP Sharp have put our not-so-secret formula into practice for 2 years now: eating fresh produce, learning about nutrition, and sampling our recipes!  Sharing Valerie and Sandra’s story gives us a better understanding of one family’s journey to better health and wellness. Access to fresh produce is the most inspiring and stimulating part of the program, because it promotes an exchange of ideas.   When I talk to Sandra, it’s usually about what’s for dinner and it doesn’t matter if it’s butternut squash or making a relish to top off your baked fish.  Sandra has a wealth of knowledge about preparing dishes for her family.  It’s one of the reason’s she and Valerie were so excited to participate in Brighter Bites again this year; they see it as an opportunity to save money at the store all while having their favorite fresh foods at their fingertips.  When they open their Brighter Bites bags, they’re thrilled to see oranges, strawberries, and broccoli!  They’re also excited to see unfamiliar items, like rutabaga.  Trying new things is part of the fun and Sandra embraces the challenge. And what about the nutrition education component you ask?  Well, KIPP Sharp integrated CATCH into not only their P.E. class, but also their food service.  Valerie’s teacher shows them the difference between GO, SLOW, and WHOA foods in the cafeteria then gets them moving with activities and games out in the field.  CATCH strategically approaches wellness from a multiple angles to improve the students’ overall health. Let’s not forget the fun food samples.  Our smoothies are always a big hit with the kids, and Valerie is no different there.  Sandra likes the fruit salsas and salads we make, much like the broccoli and grape salad we cooked up this semester.  The families are so open, eager, and enthusiastic when it comes to trying our healthful recipes. The stories Valerie and Sandra tell about Brighter Bites illustrate how we affect them and their community.  Outsiders looking in gain a better understanding of what it means to be a Brighter Bites family too.  Their stories promote our mission and support the program.   More stories to come…