In-Season Foods & Staying Healthy with At-Home School

Lauren Weatherford, WVU Extension Agent, Fayette and Nicholas Counties

In-Season Healthy Foods

Choosing in-season locally grown foods are a great way to get the tastiest and most nutritious foods, often at lower prices, while supporting your local economy. Studies have shown that foods which ripen on the plant can have higher nutrient values than foods which are picked and ripen over longer delivery times. Locally produced seasonal foods often have more intense flavors and due to reduced shipping costs can often be cheaper when in-season. And if purchased by local growers you are lessening the environmental impact while supporting local businesses.

Here are some in-season foods for fall:

• Apples – many WV locally grown varieties are available
• Acorn squash
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Butternut squash
• Carrots
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Cranberries
• Citrus fruits- grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines (while not local to WV, they are in-season)
• Kale
• Leeks
• Melons – late summer/early Fall local WV varieties available
• Mushrooms
• Parsnips
• Pears
• Peanuts
• Pumpkins
• Potatoes
• Spaghetti squash
• Sweet potatoes
• Turnips
• Walnuts

For healthy fall recipes click here.

For an easy to use guide to seasonal eating here is a link from the American Heart Association.

Healthy Virtual School Kids

Staying home and lots of screen time are requirements of virtual school. It’s important to keep kids healthy and active even during these times. Kids should have 60 minutes (or more) of movement daily. According to Harvard University regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are important ways to support a strong immune system, which is important in the era of COVID-19. Other benefits of exercise for children include:

• Improved cognitive function – focus, problem solving, memory skills
  • It can also help with motivation
• Reduced risk of depression, a more positive outlook on life, less anxiety
• Improved weight status, aerobic ability and muscle strength
• Decreased behavioral issues
• Improved sleep
• Short-term digestion support
• Lessens lifelong risk of Type-2 Diabetes and heart disease

For more information on the benefits of physical activity in children see these articles;

• KidsHealth – Kids and Exercise
• Mayo Clinic – How Much Exercise a Day Do Children Need?

Taking regular breaks can be a great way to help your kids stay healthy, active and focused.

Avoid eye fatigue by looking away from the screen for 20 seconds, focusing on something 20 feet away, every 20 minutes. This is known as the 20-20-20 rule. Movement and brain breaks are important for children’s focus, learning and well-being. When planning a daily schedule, work in regular breaks. As a general rule a 3-5 minute break is needed for elementary aged children for every 10-15 minutes of concentrated study, and every 20-30 minutes for middle and high school aged kids.

Brain breaks don’t mean we stop all of our efforts, simply taking a quick stretch, move to a different location, singing a song, work a puzzle, build Legos, or solve a riddle. Keeping your brain active is the key while giving everyone a chance to relax the focus for just a short time. It is NOT a good time to turn on the TV, get on social media, or play a computer game. You don’t want to completely turn off during these short breaks, but instead give your brain a chance to refresh. Choose this link for more information on brain breaks and virtual classroom learning– Edutopia.