Head of Nutritional Services for Riverside Unified named one of "Health Happens Heroes"

RIVERSIDE - The head of nutritional services for the Riverside Unified School District was today named one of six winners of ''Health Happens Heroes'' awards from The California Endowment.

Rodney Taylor was honored for implementing a ''Farm to School'' program that gives students a salad bar as an option to the traditional hot lunch.

''Today we honor school district innovators who understand the important role that good nutrition plays in the fitness and academic success of California's children, said Dr. Robert Ross, chief executiv of The California Endowment.

''These pioneers are embracing and defending new federal standards for healthier school meals and offering kids great-tasting healthy food that they can't wait to eat,'' he said.

Almost 56 percent of schoolchildren in California qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program.