From the Garden to the Cafeteria Salad Bar
This spring, Cerritos Elementary celebrated a major milestone—its first-ever Garden-to-Cafeteria initiative, led by the members of the K-Kids Club. This initiative supports the CalFresh Healthy Living Smarter Lunchrooms Movement initiative, building a lunchroom environment where healthy choices are the easy choice.
With guidance from the school counselor, the school site champions, and the CalFresh Healthy Living team, the K-Kids Club members got to work— clearing out weeds, planting seeds, and watering the garden during their lunchtime. The proudest moment was seeing their very own garden greens featured on the Cerritos cafeteria salad bar. The excitement on the students’ faces was unforgettable as they walked through the lunch line, proudly telling their classmates that the lettuce came from the garden they had helped grow!
Beyond encouraging nutritious eating, the project also nurtured leadership, responsibility, and a deeper appreciation for gardening. For many students, the garden became more than a place to grow food—it became a space of calm, pride, and reflection.
“While working in the garden I felt quite peaceful, calm, and grateful.”
And “I loved working in the garden.”
This initiative is a powerful reminder of the impact student engagement has in shaping healthier, more connected school, communities.
