Students in Jamie Steever's fifth-grade class went through their normal Friday morning routine: recess, hand sanitizer, snack time, spelling test.

Snack time?

Students in every grade at Willard Elementary School break once a day for a fresh fruit or vegetable snack. The Natrona County School District received more than $150,000 from the Wyoming Department of Education to implement the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in 13 elementary schools this year.

The program provides fresh snacks for students daily, outside of breakfast and lunch mealtimes, according to Mike Pyska, food service director. Three schools -- Pineview, Park and Mills Elementary schools -- participated in the program last year.

"We thought it would be an interruption," principal Leslie Madden said. "But it's been one of the best things we've done."

Boxes of fruit arrive on Mondays. Teachers select fruit for their classrooms throughout the week. Students can take home any leftovers on Friday afternoons.

On Friday morning, Steever selected mini Fuji apples -- and one kiwi for a student with braces -- for her students to eat. Fruit is also kept in the office and nurse's office for students who need a quick nutritional snack. Several students said the snack keeps them focused on school instead of a rumbling tummy.

"If you eat a small breakfast, the snack keeps you going," student Max Winters said.

Last week they ate red plums, which one-third of the students had never eaten before. A quick poll of the class concluded that the sweet, juicy plums were their favorite. Guavas, cherry tomatoes, mangoes -- they want to try new foods.

The program offers almost 500 fruits and vegetables including honeydew, alfalfa sprouts and red bananas, but schools don't know what they get until they open the boxes. The snacks are shipped with information about the origin and nutritional benefits of the fruits and veggies, which teachers pass on to students.

The program started during the last week of September and continues through the end of the school year.

Reach education reporter Jackie Borchardt at (307) 266-0593 or at jackie.borchardt@trib.com. Read her education blog at tribtown.trib.com/reportcard