Monday, September 24, 2007; Posted: 4:40 p.m. (CDT)
Nine-year-old Arden Moad tried something new on Monday. She ate Daikon radishes for lunch.
"When I saw it I didn't know what it was," says Arden. "I decided I would try it and I tried it and it was good."
The new program is called "A to Z Salad Bar." It gives students at all 18 Putnam City elementary schools a chance to taste a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Jennifer Strong, Child Nutrition Director at Putnam City Schools, says, "We do have an obesity problem within the United States."
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It's reported there are millions of children who are overweight.
Strong says, "Especially here in Oklahoma we don't have the exposure to a lot of fruits and vegetables. I'm really hoping we can walk away with kids going home and telling mom and dad what I had at school was really good."
It's what Arden plans to do when she gets home.
She says, "It's good. I like it."
Arden also believes it could help those youngsters who are battling a weight problem.
The school district's food service provider sponsored the week-long program.
