Ten nutrition directors and staff from public schools in Olmsted County are learning firsthand this week how to implement more fresh fruits and vegetables into their students’ lunches.

From Monday through Wednesday at Great Grains Market & Cafe in Albert Lea, the staff spent the day with the restaurant’s chef Joe Morse and registered dietitian Deborah King, of Texas, to learn more about the requirements of a vegetarian diet.

Under the direction of Morse, who specializes in vegetarian cooking, the staff learned how to make three days worth of kid-friendly vegetarian menus. With King, they learned about the physiological side of food and other nutrition helps.

Today and Friday, Morse will go back with them to their home schools to see if they can implement what they have learned. On Thursday, he will help prepare and serve teriyaki vegetable stir fry, cabbage slaw and an Asian wrap at Dover/Eyota schools. Then on Friday, he will help prepare and serve a five-layer tortilla bake, Mediterranean wrap, asparagus supreme and Cuban beans at John Marshall High School.

Sherri Knutson, student nutrition services coordinator with Rochester Public Schools, said the goal of the instruction is two-fold: first, to implement more fresh fruits and vegetables into their school menus so meals can be more nutritious, and second, to implement local producers into the process.

She said she and the others found they lacked the knowledge and recipes of how to do this, so when Great Grains Market & Cafe opened, they knew it would be a perfect place to have the instruction.

The collaboration was made possible through a Statewide Health Improvement Program grant in Olmsted County, Knutson said.

Because all staff from the schools couldn’t be in attendance at the training, those who were there will take back what they’ve learned to their home school.

“I’m loving it,” said Lisa Hansen, a cook at Bishop Elementary School. “All the different spices — we’d love to be able to try it with the kids.”

The women learned how to make a veggie teriyaki stir fry, oriental cabbage slaw, asparagus supreme, wild rice soup, veggie chili, pasta primavera and a layered tortilla bake, among other things.

Knutson said she is excited to see how the students respond to the new menu items.

Rochester Public Schools have already started implementing vegetarian options for students to choose from, and the new ideas will allow them to expand on those even more, she said.

An Olmsted County Public Health press release about the program said the schools got involved because “school-based nutrition strategies can improve dietary practices that affect young persons’ health, growth and intellectual development. This in turn prevents immediate health problems related to poor nutrition choices, obesity and long-term health problems.”

Ultimately, it will mean fewer absences, greater academic achievement, reduced chronic disease and reduced health care costs in the state, the release continued.

Great Grains Market & Cafe owner Norah Nainani said she is pleased the Rochester district is stepping up to make a difference in children’s health.

“It’s wonderful to see how well they’re doing it,” she said.

The instruction fits in with what her organization is all about — educating the community, Nainani said. Throughout the year Great Grains offers several health and wellness courses for people in the community.