With obesity rates high among American youth and the consumption rates of fruits and vegetables low, Sauk Prairie Healthcare decided it was high time to stir things up.  

The Stir It Up! program is a program funded by Sauk Prairie Healthcare, which partners with several local schools to bring more awareness about the fruits and vegetables available to them.  During the school year Isaac Hoffmaster, a clinical dietician with Sauk Prairie Healthcare, visits Tower Rock Elementary School fourth graders once a month to introduce students to a variety of fruits and vegetables in a fun and engaging way.  

“We introduce the kids to fruits and vegetables through different recipes and combinations, and teach the kids about nutrition,” Hoffmaster said. “The recipes we share feature simple preparation and are not labor intensive; these are recipes designed so the student can try it at home with a parent.” 

Success is measured through a survey based on the amount of exposure the kids have to different varieties. “It’s not about whether or not they liked a particular fruit or vegetable,” Hoffmaster said, “But rather what they have tried or what they have a willingness to try.” 

The program has been so successful that it is being expanded to another school, an after-school program and summer school.  

Hoffmaster said it has been amazing to see kids try something new and enjoy it. “So much of it is about one kid seeing another try something, so they decide to try it, too,” Hoffmaster said. “They see that it is OK to try new things.”