It’s the plea of many a well-intentioned parent, but thanks to Fairfield’s Fuel for Learning Partnership enticing children to try just a bite of something healthy may get a little easier. The partnership, a standing committee of the town-wide PTA Council, has launched the Veggie Pledge, a project aimed at getting families to commit to making healthy additions to their diets. Each month public school cafeterias will feature samples of dishes made from the seasonal Veggie of the Month, such as pumpkin in November. “We’re trying to get people into the mind-set of adding more fruits and vegetables to their diets in a more mindful, purposeful way,” says Michelle McCabe, a North Stratfield Elementary School parent and the council’s chairwoman. To that end, the partnership has enlisted restaurants, including Maiones’ Brick Oven Pizza and Catch a Healthy Habit, as well as the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and town police and fire departments to take the pledge. “If we can focus our efforts for even one school year to get people to eat more vegetables maybe we can chip away at the fact that almost none of us eat enough of them,” says Michelle.
Look for the Veggie Pledge logo at supporting eateries and businesses around town.