Elizabeth's blog

When you ask a group of 3-5yr. olds what the word “harvest” means, who knows what kind of answers you will get? We asked this question to over 1,000 preschool children a few weeks ago and the answer that stood out the most in my mind was....

”Going to the Beanstalk.” I love it. Can it really be that simple?

Blog Categories: Food Matters

If you were a child who attended public school….you probably remember the excitement that permeated the air when it was announced that there would be a school wide assembly. I can nostalgically see the smiles on my classmates faces and the hear the little whispers of “yes!” as we all realized the monotony of our day would be relieved a bit by something fun and different. 

I never imagined that I would one day be presenting at a school assembly, but two weeks ago that was exactly what our Food Matters team did. We presented about many aspects of food to 180 children at the Columbus School for Girls.

Blog Categories: Events, Food Matters

 

Our Food Matters program is winding down for the summer….and oh what a beautiful summer it has been. We taught our classes to over 300 children at a variety of summer camps. We were clicking on all cylinders; children were tasting fresh foods, helping to create new recipes, learning about basic nutrition and in several of our camps, growing, weeding, watching, and harvesting in their own school gardens! As the manager of the Food Matters program, I observe as many classes as I can, each one a small window into the bigger picture happening at that school, for those children, teachers, and staff. When I look at the pictures from each school, I am filled with tears and a deep appreciation for the work we do with Local Matters, and the partners in the community who have joined us. 

Blog Categories: Food Matters

Food Matters is in full swing with summer camps happening at Hoover Y-Park (YMCA), St. Vincent Family Center, Blackburn Recreation Center, Columbus School for Girls, Schoenbaum Family center, Godman Guild, and Freedom Schools.  In addition, we have children’s programming every Thursday from 3-7 at the Easton Farmer’s Market!  We are busy doing what we love-teaching children and families about healthy foods, nutrition, and cooking.  Only, tis the season to be in the garden!!!  Many of our schools have gardens on-site (thanks to our new Growing Matters program) and we are integrating garden ecology into our nutrition lessons!

Blog Categories: Food Matters

As a Food Educator and the manager of the Food Matter's Program, I have the opportunity to see children of many different ages and some adults engaged with healthy whole foods.  In our Food Matter's classes we create opportunities for children to help prepare and taste healthy meals. 

For this lesson, students helped prepare a French Green Bean Salad.  The children washed hands, reviewed knife safety and used a plastic knife to help cut potatoes.  They also used their hands to tear lettuce, and helped mix the salad dressing.  It was so fun to watch them get so excited about helping and this, in turn, makes them want to try the food more. 

Blog Categories: Food Matters

It's a bird, it's a plane.....it's a heart with blood tubes!!!  As a Food Educator with Local Matters I am always delighted to see teachers, like Ms. Angie at G. Tyree, reinforce what we are teaching the children in their classroom.  I stopped in to Ms. Angie's classroom last week and saw all the children engaged in different activities.  At one small table, three children were using playdough, straws, and a variety of tools to create.  Ms. Angie walked over to their table and said "Look, you made it.  I see the heart...and what are the straws coming out of it?"  One child answered veins and i jumped in to reinforce our local matters term "blood tubes."  A smile went across my face and I quickly grabbed my camera. 

     When I ask a young child to name a healthy food that can help keep their body strong, I am delighted to hear answers like apples, oranges, salad, or even chicken and rice. I am not so delighted to hear answers such as pop-tarts, chicken nuggets, pancakes, and even cereal, since most children’s cereals are loaded with sugar and do not contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. This recent article on misleading food advertising for children seems very timely considering I have been talking with students in our Food Matters classrooms about what kinds of foods are healthy for them.  

Local Matters was selected as one of three charitable beneficiaries of OH First Lady Karen Kasich's Salute to Ohio’s Next First Lady Event, Saturday, January 8th. Local Matters,  alongside the American Heart Association and the OH Network of Second Harvest Foodbanks, will benefit from the proceeds raised.

This past Friday our Food Educators went to several different schools to cater a healthy meal for the staff, families, and children.  I attended family night at the King Center and was greeted by warm smiles, Christmas music, and happy, bouncy children.  I sautéed some garlic and onion in a skillet to, letting the aroma fill the room.  Then, I added some sweet potatoes, and greens pre-cooked by our FIE chef Laura Robertson Boyd.  Hungry parents began stopping by the table to taste and ask some questions about what I was preparing.  We also offered cole slaw with kumquats and yogurt and a green salad with purple cabbage and tomatoes.