Jesse's blog

A young man named Ryan is one of my students in the Food matters classes. His enthusiasm about the important work we are doing has been a great reminder of what an impact our program has on our students.

Every week I see Ryan, he has a new culinary experience he wants to share with me. This past week he said, “Mr. Jesse, Mr. Jesse, my Mommy made me carrots and I ate them and I growed up big and strong.”

It’s so fun and rewarding to be in a position to encourage and affirm young people like Ryan.

“Good job Ryan, that is awesome! Do you think there are a lot of vitamins in carrots?” I reply.  

“Yes, to make my muscles big and strong,” he said with a proud grin.

Blog Categories: Food Matters

My daughter Zoe and i were recently driving around and she saw a "back to school" billboard ad....her response was typical and hilarious. "That is just wrong, it should

be against the law to talk about school in the summer, I mean especially when it is a month away !" That's just about the way I think most of us felt when we were in school, or at least that's how I felt. While parents love the summer as well, by august many of us are ready to ship the kids back

to school...for real. As a parent and a food educator at Local matters i am constantly reminded of how broad the issues are that we face with food. While the issues are many, we can make a simple practical difference day by day, when we do the little things like pack our kids lunches for school.

 I really enjoy being a father. Having the privelege to be a dad has been one of the most fulfilling things I have had the pleasure to do. I also teach Food is Elementary in local schools. Teaching young children the benefit of healthy eating choices as well as giving them a window into many different cultures and cuisines that go along with that diversity is pure bliss. Throughout this past year I have seen how our curriculum broadens children's view of food and the choices they will make in the future. It is serious work, but most of all it's just fun. I have a unique window into the effectiveness of our program and how it really does change our student's perspective of food. My son, Jack who is 8 years old, was in one of my classes this past school year. I loved being in his classroom every week and it was obvious that it was pretty cool for him to have his dad teaching a weekly class.

 Hello All--- Last week I posted a recipe for a delicious tomatillo salsa that we make on a regular basis at my house. There really is nothing like a simple recipe that tastes fresh and you know is good for you. Another one of my favorite dips to enjoy around the house or in the backyard by the garden is a bit chunkier than the last. It is a bit unconventional but a totally enjoyable salsa with tomatoes, beans and corn. It can be a kind of meal within itself but eaten with some really good corn or whole grain chips its a great starter. I really hope you try this at your house tonight!

2 cups diced tomatoes

1 1/2 cup corn 

1 cup black beans 

1 avacado

1/2 cup cilantro

1/2 cup diced red onion 

1/2 cup white vinegar 

salt and pepper to taste. 

As I was thinking about what to write on today, I thought it would be really fun to talk about some of my favorite spring/summer foods. So for the next couple of weeks I will be sharing some of my family's favorites for this time of year. Although it's too early to use tomatillos from your own garden-- if you grow them like we do-- tomatillo salsa or salsa verde is one of my personal faves. You'll just have to get them from your local market for now. Its a really great alternative to conventional salsa most of us are used to eating. It has a really nice tangy, smokey quality to it that I really enjoy, not to mention how incredibly fresh it is when you make it yourself. Enjoy with corn chips, pita, or whole grain chips. 

11/2 lbs tomatillos

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup cilantro leaves

   I am constantly in the place of trying to figure out an easy recipe that my whole family will enjoy, one of my fall backs is rice and beans. I grew up loving this dish.  It was one of the items my mother would make from time to time. She always tried to keep it fun with the food she made. Mom also had the concern of making enough food that would be  healthy and also inexpensive. There were four of us and we ate a lot! I have three children of my own and they can also really put food down! This is a great way to get a meal that has a complete protein and plenty of vitamins that isn't your typical meat and potatoes fare.So here is a recipe that I use in my home, hopefully it is one you and yours can enjoy--and don't forget the hot sauce! 

11/2 cups brown rice

1/2 red onion

I had the distinct pleasure of teaching our Food is Elementary program at Clinton Elementary and Indianola Informal K-8 this school year. One of the amazing things about these two schools is that they are more than what they appear to be.

Both are amazing communities where people come together and share their lives, common experiences, struggles and the like. Parents are invested in and get involved with their childrens educations. There is strong parent support. After a year of being a "visiting" teacher I truly feel like an integral part of these schools and see first hand the important work they are doing in their students lives.

 It is finally time to get out your shovels, trowels and gardening gloves again! It seems like only yesterday that 8 foot icicles hung off of the gutters of my house in Clintonville. I am glad to say that is long gone and it is just about time to plant your gardens. Whether you are involved in a community garden, have a vegetable garden or simply love flower gardens, digging in the dirt can be rewarding for the things produced and the time you get to spend with friends and family. My wife and I have a small 5 foot by ten foot box garden in our back yard that we started last year and we are very proud of it. We grew a pretty good variety of vegetables and herbs and are still trying to decide what  to plant this year. We grew fairly typical vegetables, things like bell peppers, a few varieties of tomatoes, zuchinni and my personal favorite...eggplant. The thing that is so much fun about gardening at our house is the ways that it brings our family together.

My wife and I have three lovely children that more or less run our home or maybe that's just the way it feels at times. I work during the week and my wife works at least one day every weekend.

Now, you must understand that I think of myself as a fairly capable person around the kitchen, but I think my biggest problem is what so many of us run into... lack of inspiration. I am constantly stumped when it comes to what I can fix for dinner when Mom isn't around. It is really important that our meals are good for us,something the kids will enjoy, inexpensive and fairly easy to make.