UC educator is better known as the 'Carrot Lady'

Sometimes, it's all in the name. A garden variety story about nutrition education seems to have gotten lots of pickup in the media, perhaps because of the catchy moniker attached to the teacher - the Carrot Lady.

Sutter-Yuba UC Cooperative Extension youth nutrition educator Angela O'Rourke visits local schools and teaches children about healthy eating by guiding educational activities and offering samples of carrots and other vegetables, according to a story in the Appeal-Democrat.

"You can call her the 'Carrot Lady,'" wrote reporter Ryan McCarthy in the article's opening paragraph.

O'Rourke said she wears a bright green apron with a big carrot logo to schools and tells the children her memorable nickname to reinforce her reason for visiting.

"It reminds the kids that we're talking about something healthy today, about how to make healthy choices," O'Rourke said.

Schools are working to make sure what they serve in cafeterias is good for kids — and parents can assist by providing their children with healthy foods. The lure of processed foods, carefully marketed to be tasty, is strong.

"If you put chips next to carrots, what do you think they're going to eat?" O'Rourke was quoted in the story. She tells the children her own favorite snack is orange juice and toasted bread.

The story was also picked up in the Orland Press-Register, the Willows Journal and the Colusa County Sun Herald.

Angela O'Rourke is the Carrot Lady.

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