Students at Bryant Elementary are getting into fruits and veggies this year - including some they may not have tried before - thanks to a grant for healthy snacks.

"This program made me like broccoli," 9-year-old Jadyn Fortune said.

Bryant was one of 70 Montana schools that received a total of $800,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide healthy food to elementary children.

The grants are targeted toward schools with a high percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced lunches.

Bryant received $17,635 for the school year, which provides a healthy snack for all 270 students every day.

Principal Russ VanHook said teachers used to spend a lot of time trying to collect donations for snacks.

"We used to put snacks on school supply lists, but now we don't ask for snacks," he said.

Bryant easily qualified for the grant since nearly 80 percent of the student population qualifies for free or reduced lunch - significantly higher than any other school in the Helena School District. Warren is the second, VanHook said, with 48 percent.

Jade Hanson, 8, said she wasn't thrilled about trying all of the vegetable snacks this year, but she really enjoyed others, such as the jicama.

The snacks are prepared by Sodexo, the food service company for the district, and delivered to the school every morning. One student from each class is in charge of collecting the snacks during morning recess and distributing them to each desk, so when students return to class their fruit or vegetable is waiting.

"It's a perfect time for snacks," Hanson said.

Chloe Buck said she's always hungry after playing at recess and didn't even mind trying the parsnips.

Welma Mansfield said her favorite after-recess treat was the big, purple grapes.

The red bell peppers were a huge hit, added third-grade teacher Wanda Rumley, second to the cantaloupe.

The grant fixed a common problem of equality for snack time.

Rumley said in the past some students brought snacks from home, while others did not. Another problem was the nutritional value of the snacks.

"Most teachers fill in with a graham cracker or something," she said.

The snacks helps students get through the period between 10 and noon.

"Their performance is better with a little snack," Rumley said.

Robert Worthy, food service manager with Sodexo, is hoping the program will expand to other schools.

"I think it's an opportunity every child should have," he said.

Worthy said it costs about $63 per student for the entire school year, and he's glad he can help bring new food experiences to students in Helena. He said he's excited about putting unfamiliar fruits and vegetables in front of students.

"We've had fun things that kids can't pronounce, much less have had the opportunity to try," he said.

Denise Juneau, superintendent of public instruction, said the program promotes healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expands the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience, and increases children's fruit and vegetable consumption.

"This is another example of the innovative practices and partnerships we're building to support health and nutrition education and to improve kids' success in school," Juneau said.

Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com