Crowley Independent School District Child Nutrition Program director Sarahbeth Ghozali knew she had to come up with a truly effective way to get students to eat more fruits and vegetables. "We offer fruits and vegetables at breakfast and lunch, and apples, bananas and oranges are available a la carte, but students still aren't getting their five a day," said Ghozali. What strategy did she come up with to increase their consumption? Give fruits and vegetables away for free, and get kids' attention by focusing on ones that are less familiar.

And so "Free Fruit and Vegetable Fridays" were born. By giving away unusual fruits and vegetables, and sometimes combining them with low-fat, high-calcium foods such as yogurt and cheese, Ghozali hopes to inspire kids, parents and teachers to integrate more of these nutritious options into their diets. "The first Free Friday will feature kiwifruit. Anyone who comes into the cafeteria that Friday - students, teachers, parents, anyone - will be given a free kiwi sample," said Ghozali.

Ghozali also wants to expand the range of produce that children are exposed to. "We won't ever give away things like apples or oranges because students see those on a regular basis and aren't excited by them," she explained. "Some kids may be seeing a kiwifruit for the first time, though, which is great. We want to break down that barrier." That's why future offerings will include such delicacies as blueberries, cantaloupe and star fruit.

Samples of these unusual foods will be given away every other Friday at all Crowley ISD schools. "Every two weeks, teachers will be given flyers describing that Friday's offerings," Ghozali said. "We'll also create posters to put up all over the schools to let students know when and where to get the samples." Initial feedback about the program has been overwhelmingly positive. "So far, I've received good support from the principals," she said. "They agree that we need to do whatever we can to get kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. The students just aren't getting enough at breakfast and lunch. We see them being left on trays all the time."

Where is Ghozali getting the funds to pay for this? "We look at the money we have in the Farm to School Program and the fruits and vegetables we have coming from the government, and use those funds and resources as necessary," she explained. The kiwi, for example, is coming from the Texas Farm to School Program, which was created by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Department of Defense and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Ghozali estimates the district-wide cost for each Free Fruit and Vegetable Friday will be approximately $1,500. "Getting kids to eat healthier is going to cost, but I'm willing to use whatever money I can find to make that happen," she said. She has put the word out to community members - doctors' offices, local businesses, PTA groups and such - that she is looking for sponsors for the program to help offset those costs. She also applied for a $10,000 Hidden Valley Ranch grant. Ghozali said, "My goal is to do this every other Friday for as long as the budget holds out."

One way Ghozali plans to get the most bang for her buck is by combining the more expensive fruits and vegetables with low-fat dairy options. "If the budget won't allow me to offer a full serving of the more expensive fruits, I can at least offer a half a serving of fruit and stretch it by pairing it with a calcium- and vitamin D-rich dairy product," she said. And offering a serving of nonfat yogurt sprinkled with fresh blueberries or a small wedge of low-fat cheese with strawberries will do more than just stretch the fruit. It will give students an opportunity to try an unusual but delicious and healthy snack.