bean salads are becoming routine, fruits and vegetables are offered with every meal. Those who prefer can make lunches at home, but for those who rely on school programs to nourish their children during the day, it helps to know that steps are being taken to provide better quality food. And then there are those who are closest to those changes – the ones who make sure our kids have something to eat every day. Nutritionist Missy Hope, mom to one son who eats school lunch, reminds us how important those individuals are in this process. “He usually tells me he eats an apple with his lunch,� she says. “I know that it took some devoted, caring school lunch staff member to get him to reach out and take that apple, so I am grateful.�
BACKTOSCHOOL
Community Charter Public School. With a B.S. in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University, Wood has always been interested in nutrition and eating for health. “Good nutrition is a life skill,� she says. It’s that philosophy that drives the lunch program in her school, where more than 10 varieties of tomatoes are grown in the school’s garden, along with cucumbers, bell peppers and beets. At recess, students are offered free homemade pickles and multi-colored carrots. Food is often a part of the school’s curriculum. The garden itself is often used as an outdoor classroom. “Processed food has brainwashed our society and caused an epidemic because it is convenient,� Wood says. “Knowledge is power and we, as educators, must give our students the tools to succeed.� The epidemic Wood refers to includes childhood obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control, rates have more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the last 30 years. Children who are obese tend to have risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol and blood pressure. Obese children are more likely to be diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. There are many who argue that school lunches contribute to disease, and that childhood health has larger implications for the future of this country. Americans tend to overeat, but are often malnourished because they eat empty calories. Malnourished children will have “languid bodies�. Unable to focus, think creatively or have the energy required for the innovation needed in the new century, future generations could be in trouble if this food trend continues. “I think people are waking up because they see we are getting sicker,� says Dr. Rubin. Across the country, school wellness committees are working to get children involved in food decisions. Chef Ann Cooper, a.k.a. Renegade Lunch Lady, is founder of The Lunchbox, an online toolkit designed to help schools implement quality food changes. She consults with schools interested in building a food relationship with the students. “Any way we can get them engaged with food is going to help them to make better choices,� she says. She suggests students plan food menus, grow, and even cook food in supplementary cooking classes. But some schools have to walk before they can run, and that seems to be happening all over. In Massachusetts, whole grain bread has replaced white,
Smart Lunches takes lunch off parents’ plates by delivering fresh, healthy lunches to kids at schools, daycares and camps. The kid-tested fall menu has something for everyone and ordering couldn’t be easier. Best of all, we share proceeds with your school!
Donna Morin, M.Ed, CHHC is a freelance writer, wellness coach and mom to one son.
Plan of Action for Caregivers • Eat lunch with your child at school. Note how much time she has and the kinds of food offered. What is the lunch atmosphere like? • Find out if there is an Active Wellness Committee. Schools that accept federally subsidized lunches must have one.
If you’re a parent or school interested in getting Smart Lunches at your school, get in touch info@smartlunches.com
857.239.9974
smartlunches.com
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• Develop a positive relationship with the school principal, teachers, and lunch staff members. Start a respectful dialogue and remember that we are all in this together. (suggestions by Sarah Wu)
Resources: Fed Up With Lunch, Sarah Wu Lunch Wars, Amy Kalafa Two Angry Moms, documentary directed by Amy Kalafa Chef Ann Cooper, chefann.com The Edible Schoolyard Project, edibleschoolyard.org Chefs Move to Schools, chefsmovetoschools.org Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2012, http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/ governance/legislation/ cnr_2010.htm
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