WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — The Mayflower brought pilgrims to America in 1620, but now, more than 400 years later, a new ‘SHIP’ is helping some students from Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools celebrate Thanksgiving with a fresh look at food.
SHIP, which stands for School Health Initiative Program, is a club all about encouraging physical activity, gardening and cooking to develop healthy habits.
Earlier this month, SHIP issued participants a cooking challenge encouraging participating families and students to create and try healthy side dishes for Thanksgiving, supporting SHIP’s mission.
“This is a challenge where you get everything but the bird,” said WJCC Schools SHIP Culinary and Garden Educator Liz Callan.
Volunteers packed 200 shopping bags, or SHIP Chef kits, full of fresh vegetables at KelRae Farm in Toano.
The kits included sweet potatoes, apples, winter squash, green tomatoes, collards, stuffing and more. The kits were later delivered to students who took it all home and let their imaginations run wild.
“I hope all of the students that participated with SHIP Chef this time around learn to try some vegetables that they have not tried before,” said KelRae Farm co-owner Michelle Gulden, “to get in the kitchen and really explore just how simple it truly is to prepare some of your local, seasonal fall flavors.”
“That translates into them actually tasting, trying and loving these healthy dishes and hopefully continuing to eat these healthy foods the rest of their whole lives,” Callan said.
Not only are the students learning to love healthy foods, Callan said, they’re sharing their new love for cooking and healthy foods with their entire family.
Students also recipe exchange so more families can add more healthy dishes to their table on Thanksgiving — or anytime.