The Montessori Children’s House of Albert Lea incorporates nutrition and food education into its curriculum. Food tastings and maintaining a garden on site, designed and dug in 2005 by students and staff, are two hands-on methods currently used by the children. The addition of a vegetarian meal once a week was recently introduced in partnership with Great Grains Café & Market.

School director and head teacher Louise Brady said, “Children are great experimenters. We loved the idea of providing another experience for them during the school day. Any time we can increase the intake of fruits and vegetables by the children, we’ll take it. Great Grains was very receptive to helping us with this goal.”

The school is also exploring other avenues for increasing fresh and local foods in its lunch menu and curriculum. For more information, contact Brady at 373-5204.