MAY FFVP Educational SlidesThese slides are for displaying as students enjoy their FFVP snacks during the month of May! Find discussion ideas and answers to questions in the “Notes” below each slide. If a mix of veggies is

served for snack, you’ll find more than one slide for that day.EDIBLE PLANT PARTS is our theme of the month! You’ll notice a

variety of different plant parts throughout each week.Please note that the FFVP menu may change!

More information available at: www.nutritionservices.mpls.k12.mn.us/ffvp

Please contact Andrea Northup at andrea.northup@mpls.k12.mn.us with any questions or comments about the FFVP

Cantaloupe are sweet fruits that grow on vines. Minnesota cantaloupe are ripe in

August and September.

CANTALOUPE

• Cantaloupe got its name from Cantalupo, Italy

• In Australia, people call cantaloupe “rockmelon”

• Another name for cantaloupe is muskmelon

• Good source of vitamin C, which the body uses to heal itself and to strengthen blood vessels

• Vitamin A helps to protect our eyes – kind of like having super power glasses!

Cantaloupe originated in the Middle East or India. Ancient

Egyptians and Romans enjoyed growing and eating

cantaloupe.

If one melon can be divided into 12 slices and

each slice cut into 6 pieces, how many total pieces of melon would

you have?

Tomatoes are actually fruits that grow on plants (because they contain seeds) but we call them

vegetables. Minnesota farmers grow many tomatoes, which are harvested from July through September.

Grape tomatoes are a small variety of tomato.GRAPE

TOMATO• The name tomato has

its roots in the Aztec word tomatl

• The heaviest tomato ever grown was almost 8 pounds!

• Tomatoes may help to protect us against heart disease and cancer

• Good source of vitamin A and vitamin C to keep us healthy

Tomatoes are native to Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. As far back as 2,000 years ago

Aztecs and Mayas were growing tomatoes. Spanish explorers returned

home with tomato seeds and introduced them to Europe.

Tomatoes are an important ingredient in

many of our favorite foods. Can you name

some of the foods that use tomatoes as

ingredients?

Pineapples are groups of flowers whose fruitlets fuse around a central core. They grow on short-

stemmed plants in tropical climates. In the United States, most pineapples are grown in Hawaii.

PINEAPPLE

• Pineapples got their name because people thought they looked like pine cones

• In the Caribbean, pineapple crowns outside a home mean friendship and welcome

• Contain bromelian, an enzyme that may help to reduce joint pain

• High in manganese to build strong muscles and strong bones

• Good source of fiber to help with digestion

Pineapples originated in Brazil and Uruguay. Native tribes ate them and

spread them throughout the continent. Christopher Columbus

brought the first pineapples back to Europe.

What makes a tropical climate different from

our climate in Minnesota? What other

plants grow well in tropical climates?

Carrots are vegetables that grow underground as a taproot (the main root of a plant). We grow carrots

in Minnesota. They are harvested in the late summer to early fall and can be stored throughout

the winter months.

CARROT• Carrots are related to

fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips

• Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down

Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman

times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow!

Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called

beta carotene. What other orange vegetables

can you list?

• The first carrots were grown as medicine because they have so many vitamins and minerals

• Best known for a high beta carotene, content - this helps keep our eyes, skin, bones, and teeth healthy (and makes carrots orange)

Cantaloupe are sweet fruits that grow on vines. Minnesota cantaloupe are ripe in

August and September.

CANTALOUPE

• Cantaloupe got its name from Cantalupo, Italy

• In Australia, people call cantaloupe “rockmelon”

• Another name for cantaloupe is muskmelon

• Helps your eyesight AND helps you get better faster when you are sick.

• High in folate which our body uses for cell growth.

Cantaloupe originated in the Middle East or India. Ancient

Egyptians and Romans enjoyed growing and eating

cantaloupe.

If one melon can be divided into 12 slices and

each slice cut into 6 pieces, how many total pieces of melon would

you have?

Grapes are fruits that grow in bunches on vines. Grapes come in many colors – white, green, golden, red, purple,

and black. Concord grapes are one of three fruits native to North America. Grapes grow in Minnesota and are ripe in

late summer and fall.RED

GRAPES• Grapes are about

80% water!• There are grapes

growing on every continent except Antarctica

• Packed with Vitamin C and other nutrients to keep you healthy

• Good source of fiber to help with digestion

• Good source of potassium, which can help prevent muscle cramps during exercise and fight infection

Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. People were

growing grapes over 8,000 years ago!

What do you called a dried grape? What other foods can we make using grapes?

Although we use cucumbers like vegetables, they are actually a fruit that

grows on long, trailing vines. Fresh Minnesota cucumbers are available July

through September.CUCUMBER

The inside of a cucumber is about 20 degrees cooler than the outside and this is where

the phrase “cool as a cucumber” comes

from!

• Cucumbers are a good snack! They have a satisfying crunch and help our bodies to stay hydrated because they are 96% water!

Cucumbers were first grown in India. Ancient Egyptians would use the peels to hold

water when they were traveling in the desert. Christopher Columbus brought cucumbers to

America.

People like to eat cucumbers because they are so cool and refreshing. Can you think of other fruits and vegetables that

are cool and refreshing?

Jicama (pronounced HEE-ka-mah) that we eat is the root of a long plant that grows

along the ground (a vine).

JICAMAJicama has many

different names – yacón, yacuma, arboloco,

Mexican potato, Mexican yam bean, and leaf cup.

• Has lots of good fiber to help us digest our food

• Good source of vitamin C to boost the immune system

• Good source of potassium to help nerves and muscles communicate

Jicama belongs to the potato family. It has been growing in Mexico and Central America

for centuries.

Can you match the American vegetable name with the British

vegetable name?aubergine rutabagarocket bell peppercapsicum zucchiniswede eggplantbeetroot beetcourgette arugula

Celery is a plant stem. With celery, we refer to the

stem as celery stalks. Although we can grow celery in

Minnesota, our climate has too many temperature

changes and hot summers for this to be a good place

to grow lots of celery.

• Celery seeds are very tiny, they are about the size of a period in a newspaper

• Celery stalks should not be picked until they are at least 10 inches long

• Has lots of small amounts of beneficial vitamins and minerals

• Good source of fiber to keep your digestive system healthy

The first celery was grown by ancient

Greeks and Romans. They used the plant as

medicine.

How do you think a plant gets water

and nutrients from the soil?

CELERY

Strawberries are a fruit that grows on small plants. They are the only fruit with their seeds on the outside of their skin!

You can find fresh Minnesota strawberries in June and July.STRAWBERRY

• An average strawberry has 200 tiny seeds on it

• Native Americans used strawberries by pounding them into cornmeal bread, this is the origin of strawberry short cake.

• Great source of potassium

• High in magnesium for strong bones

• Good source of vitamin C for healthy body tissue

Wild strawberries grew in Italy as far back as 243 BCE. The strawberries native to

the Americas are bigger and sweeter than their European

relatives.

If a pint of strawberries has 12 berries and

you buy 4 pints, how many berries

do you have?

Broccoli are clusters of flowers buds (florets) which grow on stems. Each plant produces one head of

broccoli. We harvest Minnesota broccoli from June through October.

BROCCOLI

• The name broccoli comes from the Latin word brachium, which means branch or arm

• Broccoli is in the same family of plants as cabbage and cauliflower.

• Broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients, sometimes called a Super Food!

• Has as much calcium per ounce as milk

• Good source of fiber, vitamins C, E, and K

• Good source of folate and iron to make your immune system and blood cells strong

Broccoli has existed for more than 2,000 years and was first cultivated in Italy. In the 1900s Italian immigrants

introduced broccoli to the United States when they planted it in their

gardens.

When we eat broccoli, we are actually eating the

small, unopened flowers of the plant. Can you think of any other vegetable that is

a flower?

Honeydew is a type of melon. Melons grow on vines trailing

along the ground.

•Honeydew likes warm, dry climates

•Egyptians considered honeydew a sacred food

• Has potassium to help your muscles when you exercise

• Good source of vitamin C to boost your immune system

People believe honeydew was first found in Asia. It

has been cultivated in the Middle East since ancient

times.

Melons and cucumbers are in the same plant

family. What similarities and

what differences can you think of

between honeydew and cucumber?

HONEYDEW

Cantaloupe are sweet fruits that grow on vines. Minnesota cantaloupe are ripe in

August and September.

CANTALOUPE

• Cantaloupe got its name from Cantalupo, Italy

• In Australia, people call cantaloupe “rockmelon”

• Another name for cantaloupe is muskmelon

• Good source of vitamin C, which the body uses to heal itself and to strengthen blood vessels

• Has Vitamin A to promote healthy vision and skin

• High in folate which our body uses for cell growth.

Cantaloupe originated in the Middle East or India. Ancient

Egyptians and Romans enjoyed growing and eating

cantaloupe.

If one melon can be divided into 12 slices and

each slice cut into 6 pieces, how many total pieces of melon would

you have?

Watermelons are a fruit that grows on vines running along the ground.

Minnesota watermelons are ripe from July to September. WATERMELON

• Watermelons are 92% water and 8% sugar

• Watermelons can have seeds or be seedless

• Watermelons can have red, orange, or yellow flesh inside.

• Good source of vitamin C to boost your immune system

• Dark red watermelons have beta carotene that your body turns into vitamin A and lycopene which may help fight some cancersWatermelon is thought to

have originated in Africa over 4,000 years ago. African

slaves brought watermelon seeds with them to the

Americas and planted them in the fields to eat during the

hot summer months.

Watermelons take about 80 days to grow and ripen. If

you wanted to have a ripe watermelon

on August 31st, when would you need to plant the

seeds?

Pineapples are groups of flowers whose fruitlets fuse around a central core. They grow on short-

stemmed plants in tropical climates. In the United States, most pineapples are grown in Hawaii.

PINEAPPLE

• Pineapples got their name because people thought they looked like pine cones

• In the Caribbean, pineapple crowns outside a home mean friendship and welcome

• Contain bromelian, an enzyme that may help to reduce joint pain

• High in manganese to build strong muscles and strong bones

• Good source of fiber to help with digestion

Pineapples originated in Brazil and Uruguay. Native tribes ate them and

spread them throughout the continent. Christopher Columbus

brought the first pineapples back to Europe.

What makes a tropical climate different from

our climate in Minnesota? What other

plants grow well in tropical climates?

Bell peppers are a sweet vegetable that grow on small, bush-like plants. Fresh, Minnesota-

grown peppers can be found in the months of July, August and September.

GREEN PEPPER

• Peppers can be put into two groups: sweet or hot

• Red, orange, or yellow peppers are green peppers left on the plant long enough to change color!

• Helps you see and feel better.

• Makes your nails go strong and keep you from getting sick.

• The bell pepper has twice the amount of vitamin C as an orange!

Peppers originated in Mexico and Central and South America.

Christopher Columbus loaded his ships with many pepper when he returned to Spain. Soon peppers

became popular throughout Europe.

Peppers have more nutrients once they are fully ripe. Which pepper has more nutrients – a green pepper or a red

pepper?

Bananas are a fruit that grows in bunches called hands. Each banana is called a finger. Although the banana plant looks like a tree,

it is actually a giant herb!

BANANA• Bananas have been

growing on earth for over 1 million years

• Types of bananas include dwarf bananas, red bananas, and plantains

• High in fiber to help your stomach feel full

• Full of potassium and vitamin C. Potassium helps our bodies balance fluids when we eat salty foods and vitamin C helps our immune system

Bananas are from the Malaysian area of Southeast Asia. The banana was

officially introduced to the US public at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial exhibition where it was wrapped in

foil and sold for 10 cents!

Bananas are a tropical fruit and need warm, humid conditions to grow. Brainstorm countries

with a tropical climate and then listen to your teacher

describe how a banana travels to get to our classroom.

Carrots are vegetables that grow underground as a taproot (the main root of a plant). We grow carrots

in Minnesota. They are harvested in the late summer to early fall and can be stored throughout

the winter months.

CARROT• Carrots are related to

fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips

• Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down

Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman

times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow!

Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called

beta carotene. What other orange vegetables

can you list?

• The first carrots were grown as medicine because they have so many vitamins and minerals

• Best known for helping keep our eyes, skin, bones, and teeth healthy

Broccoli are clusters of flowers buds (florets) which grow on stems. Each plant produces one head of

broccoli. We harvest Minnesota broccoli from June through October.

BROCCOLI

• The name broccoli comes from the Latin word brachium, which means branch or arm

• Broccoli is in the same family of plants as cabbage and cauliflower.

• Broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients, sometimes called a Super Food!

• Has as much calcium per ounce as milk

• Good source of fiber, vitamins C, E, and K

• Good source of folate and iron to make your immune system and blood cells strong

Broccoli has existed for more than 2,000 years and was first cultivated in Italy. In the 1900s Italian immigrants

introduced broccoli to the United States when they planted it in their

gardens.

When we eat broccoli, we are actually eating the

small, unopened flowers of the plant. Can you think of any other vegetable that is

a flower?

A head of cauliflower is actually the immature flowers of the plant. In addition to white cauliflower,

it can be purple, green or gold! In Minnesota, cauliflower is harvested from July to November.

CAULIFLOWER

Because leaves cover the cauliflower buds and block

out the sunlight, chlorophyll doesn’t form in

the buds and this keeps the cauliflower white. In

the picture, the leaves have been cut back.

• Full of vitamin C, fiber, and folate to keep our immune system and cells strong

• Contains a substance called indole which scientists think may help prevent certain types of cancer

Cauliflower was first grown in Asia around the Mediterranean

Sea. The word cauliflower comes from the Latin floris meaning

flower and caulis meaning stalk.

Find the Mediterranean Sea on a map. What continents touch the Mediterranean Sea?What Asian countries

border the Mediterranean Sea?

Oranges are a citrus fruit that grow on trees with thorns. Oranges do not grow in

Minnesota. Florida produces 90% of the oranges grown in the United States.ORANGE

• Navel oranges are named that because of the belly-button formation opposite the stem end.

• After chocolate & vanilla, orange is the world’s most popular flavor!

• A terrific source of vitamin C. In fact, oranges are the largest source of vitamin C for most Americans.

• Vitamin B6 to help our brains function.

Oranges originated in Malaysia. Travelers and traders carried the fruit to Ancient Greece, Rome, the Middle East, and Africa. Columbus brought

orange seeds to the Americas

Do you remember the first time you tried an

orange? When was it? Where was it? Who did you eat it with? What

did it taste like?

Carrots are vegetables that grow underground as a taproot (the main root of a plant). We grow carrots

in Minnesota. They are harvested in the late summer to early fall and can be stored throughout

the winter months.

CARROT• Carrots are related to

fennel, dill, parsley, and parsnips

• Baby carrots are actually big carrots that are peeled, cut and shaved down

Around 5,000 years ago, people in Middle Asia and Afghanistan began to eat carrots. In Roman

times, carrots were mostly purple and yellow!

Carrots are an orange vegetable because they contain a nutrient called

beta carotene. What other orange vegetables

can you list?

• The first carrots were grown as medicine because they have so many vitamins and minerals

• Best known for helping keep our eyes, skin, bones, and teeth healthy

Nectarines are a stone fruit that grow on trees. Nectarines need to be planted in an area with

a cool winter so that they can lie dormant (asleep) for a period of time, otherwise they

can’t produce fruits.NECTARINE

• Nectarines get their name from the word ‘nectar’ which means fruit of the gods• Sometimes you can find nectarines and peaches growing on the same tree!

• All fruits are a great source of vitamins and minerals that helps a body out!

• Nectarines contain niacin – which helps your brain, skin, hair and eyes stay healthy.

• Vitamin E is very protective and can keep your body fight illness

Nectarines originated in China thousands of years ago. They

are the result of a natural mutation in a peach. In fact,

except for the fuzzy skin, peaches and nectarines are

exactly the same!

Nectarines are in the orange-colored fruit group. What

other colors of fruits can you list? What are your favorite

fruits to eat in each color group?

Peaches are a stone fruit because they have one pit, or stone, in the middle. They grow on trees. There are some

peach trees that can grow in Minnesota. PEACH

Peaches are in the same family

as roses!

• All fruits are a great source of vitamins and minerals that helps a body out!

• Copper helps new red blood cells form – which you need to run and jump and climb trees!

• Potassium also is important for growing, active kids. It helps keep your heart STRONG!

Peaches were first grown in China. From China, peaches spread to Persia and then to Europe. Peaches were first

planted in Florida in the 1500s.

Most peaches are considered an

orange fruit. What other orange

fruits can you list?

Plums are stone fruits that grow on trees. They are related to peaches, nectarines, and apricots. Plums can have green, yellow, red, or purple skin. Some

plums grow in Minnesota, but not many.

PLUM• Dried plums are called

prunes• Plums do not get

sweeter after being picked

• China produces most of the world’s plums

• Good source of vitamin C to aid our bodies in absorbing calcium

• Good source of vitamin A to maintain eye health

There are two types of plums – Japanese and European plums.

Japanese plums came from China. We don’t know where the first

European plum grew.

What dried fruits have you tried or seen? How were they different from fresh fruits?

Bananas are a fruit that grows in bunches called hands. Each banana is called a finger. Although the banana plant looks like a tree,

it is actually a giant herb!

BANANA• Bananas have been

growing on earth for over 1 million years

• Types of bananas include dwarf bananas, red bananas, and plantains

• High in fiber to help your stomach feel full

• Full of potassium and vitamin C. Potassium helps our bodies balance fluids when we eat salty foods and vitamin C helps our immune system

Bananas are from the Malaysian area of Southeast Asia. The banana was

officially introduced to the US public at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial exhibition where it was wrapped in

foil and sold for 10 cents!

Bananas are a tropical fruit and need warm, humid conditions to grow. Brainstorm countries

with a tropical climate and then listen to your teacher

describe how a banana travels to get to our classroom.