Chicken topped with melted cheese, a strawberry-and-raspberry glaze and a mix of basil, thyme and alnuts was on the menu at George Bancroft elementary school on Thursday afternoon.

   Add to that a side of mashed sweet potatoes with shredded apples, and it was a meal the school’s second-graders loved.

   The afternoon meal, which the students even got to help prepare, was part of the school’s new healthy eating initiative.

   Many of the foods the students were exposed to for the last few weeks — such as lemons, limes and eggplant — are new to them.

   “They can say they’ve tried it. A lot can say they like it,” said Principal Gwendolyn Damiano, who has worked with culinary artist Rebekah Gillette to start the program.

   When Ms. Gillette met with the students for the first time a month ago, many could not name more than four or five fruits and vegetables.

   “They didn’t know what an herb was,” she said.

   But now the students are eating basil — and liking it.

   The students looked on as Ms. Gillette prepared a salad with romaine lettuce, apples, carrots and pumpkin seeds. When she whisked together a dressing of orange juice, pumpkin oil and honey, one student said: “That doesn’t look good, but I know it’ll taste good.”

   When butter hit the hot grill, the children got off their stools to see the sizzle. They helped shred the carrots and mash the sweet potatoes.

   And after the meal was served, it scored rave reviews. Some children wanted seconds.

   “The walnuts with the basil and the chicken with the cheese and sauce,” 7-year-old Nastagia McCloe said when asked what was her favorite part of the meal. “I liked the thyme and a dash of cinnamon.”

   The healthy eating was incorporated into several subjects, such as art, math and reading, and the students learned the positive aspects of eating healthy food.

   Ms. Damiano hopes to expand the program to additional grades in the near future because of the important lessons that are being learned.

   “Our hope is that they’ll choose apples over chips,” she said.

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