COEUR d'ALENE - Snack times will be fresh, tasty and healthy again next year at several area schools.

The Idaho Department of Education announced Monday that 116 schools, including several that serve Kootenai County students, have received Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program grants.

The federal initiative has been in place for several years and aims to create healthier school environments by providing nutritious food choices at snack times.

"Some of the kids do not have snacks at all, some have brought in Top Ramen or candy, or those kinds of things," said Ed Ducar, the director of food services in the Coeur d'Alene School District. "This will provide them a healthy snack during the school day and give them the opportunity to try new fruits and vegetables that in the past they may not have tried."

The competitive grant program targets schools that serve lower income populations. Grant eligibility required that more than 60 percent of a school's student population qualifies for free or reduced cost meals, Ducar said.

Families of four with an annual income of $40,793 or less were eligible for the discounted or no-cost breakfasts and lunches offered in the region's public schools for the 2010-11 school year.

For the next school year in Coeur d'Alene, Borah Elementary was awarded $19,439 to be used for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks.

Fernan Elementary will receive $19,840, and Winton Elementary was awarded $14,379.

Other local schools receiving funding for the fresh produce snack program for next year include Lakeside Elementary in the Plummer-Worley School District; Mullan Trail and Seltice elementary schools in the Post Falls district; and Spirit Lake, John Brown and Athol elementary schools in the Lakeland School District.

"The biggest thing is that it really meets the needs of our students while meeting a need in the community. It educates students and adults on healthier eating," said Kevin Doyle, director of food services in the Lakeland district.

Lined baskets of the fresh and healthy snacks are delivered to each of the schools' classrooms, Doyle said.

Doyle's department also provides literature that explains where the fruits and vegetables are grown, so the snacks can be part of a teacher's lesson plan as well.

Ducar said the fresh produce snacks tie into the Coeur d'Alene district's food services ongoing efforts to help children educate healthy eating patterns by teaching them about nutritious food choices they can make.

"We sent pole beans home with some of the kids for them to plant and grow," Ducar said.