Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Love Your Veggies™ grant program?
The Love Your Veggies™ grant program is an initiative sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings that will provide $15,000 grants to 10 elementary schools nationwide in the spring of the 2008-09 school year to support increased access to, and consumption of, fresh vegetables and fruits during school meals. The makers of Hidden Valley® have partnered with the School Nutrition Foundation on this important endeavor and the program is also supported by Produce for Better Health Foundation.
How can my school apply for the grant?
Schools can apply for a $15,000 Love Your Veggies™ grant via an online application at www.LoveYourVeggiesGrants.org until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Nov. 7, 2008. Click here to learn more and begin your application process.
Why was the Love Your Veggies™ grant program created?
The Love Your Veggies™ grant program was created after a study conducted by the University of California Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Butte County (California) Cooperative Extension found that children consumed 23 percent more vegetables when paired with a moderate amount of ranch dressing. It was also created as a way to help schools address federally mandated local wellness policies that require schools to create nutrition and exercise programs to help improve overall student health.
How are the 2008-09 grant recipients required to spend their $15,000 grants?
Funding must be spent on any of the following:
- Fresh produce (vegetables and fruits)
- A vegetable station (such as a dedicated salad bar)
- Kitchen equipment (primary usage must relate to proposed program)
- Program staffing (cafeteria personnel, lunchroom staff, etc.)
- Nutrition education supplies
- Food Safety Training
What are the criteria for applying?
The following criteria are required for the 2008-2009 grant program:
- School must have an approved Local Wellness Policy in place as of July 1, 2006.
- School must be an elementary school serving children within grades K-6.Schools may serve additional grades.
- School representative must fully and accurately complete the Love Your Veggies™ online application, found at www.LoveYourVeggiesGrants.org.
- School, if chosen for a grant, must be willing to cooperate with the makers of Hidden Valley® representatives in the preparation of any press releases relating to the Program, including providing permission to use quotes from school officials and images of the school and students.
- Schools must have approval from principal, school foodservice/nutrition director and district contact (superintendent or communications director).
Who selects the grant winners?
Applications for the Love Your Veggies™ grant program will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprised of representatives from Hidden Valley®, the School Nutrition Foundation, and Produce for Better Health Foundation.
Are schools required to use Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings in their cafeterias as part of the program?
No.Purchase of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings and products are not required to apply, receive or keep a grant award.
What is Henry and the Hidden Veggie Garden?
Henry and the Hidden Veggie Garden is a book geared toward children ages seven to ten. It tells the story of a boy named Henry, a typical American kid who’d rather play video games than play outside and would rather eat pizza and burgers instead of peas and carrots. But after a visit to his aunt’s farm, Henry discovers a new way to eat and live, which he embraces in a surprising way.
How do I buy Henry and the Hidden Veggie Garden?
Click here to purchase Henry and the Hidden Veggie Garden for $5.00
Who is Kimberly Williams-Paisley?
Kimberly Williams-Paisley, age 36, first lit up the screen as the radiant young bride in the comedy feature film series "Father of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride II."During the first year of her marriage to country singer Brad Paisley, she wrote a series of columns for Redbook magazine about her own experiences as a new bride Currently, she co-stars in the ABC television sitcom "According to Jim."
Who is Gurney Williams III?
Gurney Williams III co-authored Henry and the Hidden Veggie Garden with his daughter Kimberly Williams-Paisley. He has been a writer and editor for more than 40 years, contributing scores of articles – often focusing on health – to national magazines, including Parenting and Family Circle He was co-author of a college textbook on children's literature, and has published several previous children's books inspired by stories he told Kimberly and her brother and sister when they were young.
Why did Kimberly decide to write this book
As a mother of a one-year-old-son William Huckleberry, Kimberly recognizes that eating habits are learned early on and as a parent she knows she has to work hard to create the environment she wants her son to grow up in as a veggie lover, it's hard for Kim to see kids turn up their noses at delicious, fresh food So she wrote this book to help her son and other kids see the fun in eating healthfully.