Since Fall 2022, students in Carroll's Public Health Nutrition class have been actively participating in the Harvest of the Month (HOM) program, bringing hands-on nutrition education to fourth-grade classrooms across Helena. Each semester, they visit up to eight classrooms, engaging students with fun and interactive activities like "carrot yoga" and the "beet rap," while also introducing nutritious foods such as dried beet chips, curried roasted cauliflower, lentil burgers, and kale salad—some of which have even made their way onto the Helena Public Schools lunch menu.
"I enjoyed my time with the HOM program so much. It was really eye opening seeing how so many of these students were more than willing to try the new foods and some even said they were going to tell their parents to implement certain ones into their meals! Overall I think it impacted me very positively and it’s an experience I will never forget."
~ Courtney Labbe, Health Sciences major, Class of 2027
Coordinated through MSU, HOM promotes Montana-grown foods by featuring a different local food item each month. A key component of the program is food education in K-12 schools, led by Kim Lloyd at St. Peter’s Health.
HOM provides an invaluable opportunity for Carroll’s students to gain real-world experience as future health leaders, while fourth-graders benefit from engaging lessons that make healthy eating fun. The excitement and enthusiasm from both the elementary and college students highlight the impact of this meaningful partnership.
"The Harvest of the Month program was an enjoyable experience to be a part of. Though it may have been a little nerve-wracking at first, it turned out to be a great place for us students to practice our presentation skills to a friendly audience, and the kids showed lots of excitement and were proud to share their thoughts and what they learned."
~ Carter White, Health Sciences major, Class of 2027