MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — Convincing a middle schooler to do anything is difficult. Convincing them to eat their fruits and vegetables at lunch is truly a reach for the stars.
"It's a challenge every day for them to take fruits and vegetables," Connie Sarne said. Sarne has been working at John Glenn Middle School's cafeteria for the last decade. She has been with the school district since 1998. She said she has never stopped trying to get kids to love their fruits and vegetables.
More than two decades of experience in school kitchens has taught her to improvise, adapt and overcome when it comes to getting students to eat their rainbow. After all, her creativity is just as colorful as the rainbow of foods she promotes.
So recently, in an attempt to pique interest in healthy food items, Sarne picked up a Minnesota filet knife, along with a tiny wood carving tool to carve food.
"I started out on day one and did a simple little frog in the salad bar," Sarne said. "Then I was hooked!"
She started creating a daily treat for the eyes to show kids that it can be a treat for their stomachs as well. She said she hopes her elaborate fruit and veggie creations would be the little nudge a student may need to reach for a balanced meal during lunch hour.
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"I put jicama in certain things that were out there one day and a kid told me he was going to try the jicama," she said.
For 35 school days, Sarne devoted her time outside of school to prepare for the fruit creations. She said she loves bringing a little bit of whimsy to the students during their lunchtime.
"You know if you're sitting and watching 'The Bachelor' or whatever, you can just carve out a carrot and make a flower," she said with a laugh.
Sarne said she does this because she sees it as investing in her community.
"These kids are in my neighborhood, they live here somewhere in my neighborhood," she said. "I see them all over the community."
Every kid deserves a balanced meal with a side of love.
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"It's fun to see the smiles on their faces when they talk about it, when they're excited about it," Sarne said. "It's fun to see kids excited, about something really simple as a sculpture that you made and they really-- I guess that's why I keep doing it."
Sarne said she will resume her fruit and vegetable carving once they return from Spring Break and will continue as long as everyone wants her to.