Vegging out

Paul Clinton

Bopping around from an apple toss to a grapefruit shotput, children

from a Surf City elementary school learned about the glory of fruits and

vegetables at a field trip.

More than 100 fourth- and fifth-graders from Isojiro Oka School

traveled to Tanaka Farms in Irvine for the knowledge.

Principal Joyce Buehler said the experience was a valuable way to

learn about the nutritional value of those things sitting next to the

pork chop on the dinner plate.

“Whenever they can have an on-site learning experience like that, it

enhances their learning tenfold,” Buehler said. “Hands-on participation

is what it’s all about in learning.”

The event, Taking Kids from Fat to Fit, was sponsored by the American

Cancer Society as a way to head off obesity as children grow into

adulthood, said spokeswoman Jennifer Horspool.

“We’re trying to get children to incorporate more fruits and vegetable

into their diets,” Horspool said. “We wanted them to know the numerous

types of fruits and vegetables.”

More than 1,500 children from all over Orange County participated.

The almost three-hour event was marked by a tour around the farm’s

growing fields. Informational signs were posted to educate the children

about the various items.

Children then answered trivia questions about the fruits and

vegetables and played the fruit games.

During the “Strawberry Break-Fast” game, children carried strawberries

on a spoon while they walked quickly.

After the games, children dug into a salad bar -- from A (for apple)

to Z, or at least W (for winter squash).

Cancer society event organizers also encouraged the children to engage

in regular physical activity.

More than 40% of adults in California don’t engage in any leisure-time

activity, they said.

* Paul Clinton covers City Hall and education. He may be reached at

(714) 965-7173 or by e-mail ato7 [email protected] .