Each month the Cambridge in Motion team sends a flyer with fun facts and a family newsletter to celebrate the Mass Farm to School partnership. We hope your family enjoys the fun and learning opportunities within! This month we are learning about potatoes and we'll introduce our special guest stars, HERBS! Enjoy the fun resources, recipes, lessons and activities that keep your family exploring and thriving! Follow us on twitter @CambMotion Fun Potato Facts! _____________________________________________ Just a 1/2 cup of potatoes has around 20% of your vitamin C needs for the day (varies based on how you cook them). Vitamin C helps our body heal as it's needed to make collagen (a protein that provides structural support to tissues!) White and yellow potatoes have iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, fiber, potassium and vitamin C! Orange sweet potatoes also have tons of vitamin A (but less vitamin C that white and yellow potatoes.) Purple sweet potatoes are rich in anthocyanins, substances found in red, purple, and blue fruits and vegetables. They help reduce inflammation and support our immune systems, Yams and sweet potatoes are completely different vegetables! Yams are starchy and have a rough, brown exterior. They can grow up to 45 feet long and are eaten in parts of Latin America, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia. Sweet potatoes are a New World root vegetable, have a softer, reddish skin, a creamier interior, and often, a darker interior.

April Harvest of the Month Video! Watch our Cambridge in Motion monthly video series featuring the Harvest of the Month (foods that are grown locally to New England)! You'll watch our public health nutritionist bring to life some fun facts, make a quick snack, and give a nutrition or cooking tip! Watch the April Video!

Joke of the Month Q: What herb never says yes? A: OregaNO

Videos & Family Learning!

(1) The Smithsonian Magazine article, How the Potato Changed the World, is a great resource for background knowledge of the role of potatoes throughout history. (2) Grow Your Own Potatoes: Learn how to grow your own potatoes with just a few simple steps in this fun video from SciShow Kids!

For At-Home or Classroom Learning!

(1) Herb Sensory Exploration (K-2): What are your 5 senses? How can you use the power of observation and all of your senses to recognize and differentiate herbs? How can you use the herb in everyday life? In this lesson, students use their observation skills and five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing) to explore a variety of culinary and medicinal herbs. (2) Food Science Fun (6-8): In this lesson, students will learn how to roast vegetables. Students will draw a picture of their favorite vegetable, then watch a video that examines factors like oven temperature and vegetable size which affect how the vegetables cook!

Food Waste Tip of the Month  Thoroughly inspecting all produce before purchasing will reduce food waste at home. Check potatoes for green areas called solanine, which can cause digestive issues. Store potatoes away from light, in well ventilated areas, to prevent solanine. Check out these 7 Tips from the UN on reducing your food wast at home!

Delicious Recipes! Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow! Try this pesto on roasted potatoes or whole grain pasta! Try this amazing West African Peanut Stew featuring sweet potatoes! Grill up something new with this Asian-inspired Pork Satay with Pineapple & Sweet Potatoes recipe! Try this Chickpea & Sweet Potato Stew for the perfect all-in-one dinner tonight! Try these Za'atar Roasted Potatoes as a side dish to chicken! Za'atar is a spice blend of oregano, thyme, sumac, and sesame, among others, with origins in the Middle East. Use up leftover sweet potatoes with this delicious Sweet Potato Cornbread Muffin recipe! This one-pot Spinch, Sweet Potato Dal has a lot of ingredients but also a LOT of flavor! Children's Book Spotlight No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas Written by Tonya Bolden Illustrated by Don Tate For grades 1-5 "For elementary readers, Tonya Bolden’s No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas tells the true story of Junius G. Groves who was born in Kentucky into slavery. Groves gained his freedom when he was still a young man, and he migrated from the South to Kansas where he built a massive potato business, and became known as the Potato King of the World."

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