51 Baltimore County Schools Have Healthier Cafeterias This Year: See List

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Nearly 200 Maryland schools, including 51 in Baltimore County, will have healthier cafeterias when students return this week.

The Maryland State Department of Education announced Friday that it awarded over $4.5 million in federal funds to 196 elementary schools statewide to encourage lifelong healthy eating habits. The funds, available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, expand student access to produce in participating schools.

Priority was given to schools with high numbers of students from families with low income. Schools were selected based on the percentage of enrolled children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals, said Julie Fletcher, MSDE's executive director of the Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs.

"Early introduction to fruits and vegetables improves [children's] acceptance of these foods," Fletcher told Patch in a Monday statement. "The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program introduces elementary school students to new foods and shows them that produce can be a healthy and delicious snack."

The participating Baltimore County Public Schools are:

1. Baltimore Highlands Elementary
2. Battle Grove Elementary
3. Bear Creek Elementary
4. Berkshire Elementary
5. Carney Elementary
6. Chadwick Elementary
7. Charlesmont Elementary
8. Chase Elementary
9. Church Lane Elementary
10. Colgate Elementary
11. Deep Creek Elementary
12. Deer Park Elementary
13. Dogwood Elementary
14. Dundalk Elementary
15. Edmondson Heights Elementary
16. Elmwood Elementary
17. Essex Elementary
18. Featherbed Lane Elementary
19. Glyndon Elementary
20. Grange Elementary
21. Halethorpe Elementary
22. Halstead Academy
23. Hawthorne Elementary
24. Hebbville Elementary
25. Hernwood Elementary
26. Johnnycake Elementary
27. Lansdowne Elementary
28. Logan Elementary
29. Mars Estates Elementary
30. McCormick Elementary
31. Middlesex Elementary
32. Milbrook Elementary
33. Norwood Elementary
34. Oakleigh Elementary
35. Owings Mills Elementary
36. Pleasant Plains Elementary
37. Powhatan Elementary
38. Red House Run Elementary
39. Riverview Elementary
40. Sandalwood Elementary
41. Sandy Plains Elementary
42. Scotts Branch Elementary
43. Seneca Elementary
44. Shady Spring Elementary
45. Sussex Elementary
46. Timber Grove Elementary
47. Victory Villa Elementary
48. White Oak School
49. Winfield Elementary
50. Woodbridge Elementary
51. Woodmoor Elementary

Additional information on Child Nutrition Programs is available at eatsmartmaryland.org.