When it comes to "yummy" food, 6-year-old Luke Campbell knows exactly what he likes.

"The dates were good because they were squishy, and the muffin has good vitamins," said the energetic first-grader. "This is better than eating something unhealthy."

Luke and about 460 other students at Aspen School in Thousand Oaks, as well as 12 other schools in the Conejo Valley Unified School District, received some sweet-yet-healthy treats during Wednesday's lunch. Students munched on dates and bite-size chocolate date muffins as part of the district's Healthy Food Promotion Day.

The Healthy Food Promotion program exposes young students to fruits and vegetables they might not be familiar with, said Joe Cook, the district's child nutrition director. Under the program, launched at the 13 schools in March with the help of parent volunteers, students are introduced to a new fruit or vegetable once a month.

Before they receive the tasty treats, the students get an informational packet to take home that includes the nutritional breakdown and fun facts about healthy snacks.

"When the child comes home we hope the kids will say to mom and dad, I had these funny little brown things called dates at school and it was sweet and good,' " Cook said. "Our goal is to get all 20 elementary schools more parent volunteers to help during these lunchtime promotions."

Armed with chocolate date muffins and a red bullhorn, parent-volunteer Barrie Silberberg spoke over the rambunctious lunchtime crowd at Aspen on Wednesday.

"Today we are trying something new called dates," said Silberberg, who was greeted with cheers from the young crowd. "We are giving you little cups with dates on the bottom, and on the top you will find a muffin made with dates inside."

Healthy-snack hits so far include pineapples, sugar snap peas and edamame, said Pat Ryan, a child nutrition central kitchen supervisor. If this school year's delicacies prove to be popular, students might see the featured fruit or vegetable on their school's regular lunch menu, Ryan said.

The program's success, however, depends on the number of parent volunteers who take time out to deliver, distribute and discuss the snacks with the students. The district is looking for more volunteers, Ryan said.

Heather Gilliam, a volunteer and registered nutritionist, said the program is a hit among parents, too.

"I've been wanting to do something to introduce all the kids to good nutrition, and this is the perfect opportunity," Gilliam said. "For so many years, my kids have been involved in sports, and I see little cookies handed out at the games. Here we are trying to have kids be active, show sportsmanship and teamwork yet at the end of all the physical activity, we give them cookies."

But under the Conejo program, "I think it's great they can be with their friends and be exposed to all of these great foods and be able to talk to their parents about it," she said.

Aspen students agreed. "Junk food gets you fatter and it's not good for you," said Luke, the first-grader. "The dates are very good. Thumbs up!"

For more information or to volunteer, call 497-9511, ext. 256.