Students learn nutrition from local restaurants

French fries aren't vegetables.

Robert Bush, 12, already knew that but learned Friday it's a common misconception.

"Something like 95 percent of Americans think french fries are vegetables, but they're not," he said.

Robert is among 24 sixth-graders, chosen from among those in Gifted and Talented Education, to take part in a new program called Project Challenge.

As part of the program, students research different topics then get a chance to apply their knowledge in the real world.

"We're trying to give them challenges they don't ordinarily get in the school day," said coordinator Carol Harris. "This is over and above."

The day began with a presentation by Chris Cooper, nutrition services coordinator for the Carson City School District.

Cooper explained the nutritional content of the food being offered at the schools and pointed out the fresh fruit and vegetable carts available to all students.

Makayl Holloway, 11, didn't know that.

"I was always too nervous to go up there," she said. "I don't like getting in trouble at all. But now that I have proof it's OK, I will."

So will Carson Middle School classmate Noah Giron, 12.

"I will go up there every day," he said. "I try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as I can because I know they're good for you, and I think they taste good."

Students then toured Sassafras and Applebee's, listening to presentations on the way food is selected and prepared at each.

"I liked that neither one of them pre-cook the food," said Natalie Anderson, 11. "They cook it when you order it."

Carl Ceccarelli, Sassafras general manager, explained what set the restaurant apart.

"We consider ourselves a chalkboard restaurant," he said. "We change stuff all the time depending on what's seasonally available to us, what's interesting to us and what's interesting to the customer."

Students finished with a trip to McDonald's for lunch and a tour.

Kyle Glanzmann, 11, appreciated the lessons he'd learned throughout the day.

"It's good so you know how to stay healthy," he said. "You know what choices to make."

Edson Lemus, 12, plans on sharing his knowledge.

"In future notice in your life, you can teach your kids what's healthy and not healthy," he said.

Harris said with no federal funding, the program relies heavily on community partners, such as business owners at the Nevada Department of Transportation.

"There's so much emphasis on remediation," she said. "But we think we need to focus on our brightest students as well."

The next unit Project Challenge will study will be weather. It will be followed by a unit on seismology and bridge building, including a tour of the Galena Creek Bridge of the U.S. 395 freeway.

Tristan Fautso, 11, is looking forward to it.

"This feels better than regular school," he said. "It's really fun, and you get to learn lots of new stuff."