The Great School Lunch Debate
We're excited to see so much great conversation going on around the food served in our school cafeterias these days. The new TV show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is sure to stir some emotion from all sides. British chef Jamie Oliver has "invaded" the town of Huntington, WV (declared the least healthy city in America, though not much different than many cities across this country) to confront the childhood obesity and diabetes crisis building in the city's schools.
While the show fails to capture the complexity or roots of the problem at hand or acknowledge those who have been working on these issues for years, the show does have a great chance to bring these issues to light for many who may not have otherwise considered them.
Communities across the country are already abuzz with these conversations. Teachers have begun sharing their stories through the blog Fed Up with School Lunch where one teacher in Illinois has decided to eat lunch in her school's cafeteria every day and photograph it for all to see. In Washington, DC a parent (and journalist) spent a week in the cafeteria learning all about the foods served to the kids at his daughter's school.
At Local Matters we're on a mission to transform the food system in Central Ohio so that everyone has access to fresh nutritious local food. Our young children and their families are central to that mission. We're taking the first steps now to bring healthy food into schools by teaching our comprehensive Food is Elementary (FIE) curriculum to hundreds of students each week. These classes not only teach kids about how food impacts their body, but also introduce children to new wholesome foods from 14 different cultures - no small feat as many parents know!
Demand for these classes is growing throughout the region but the resources for measures like these to address the root causes of chronic health issues are scarce.
Beyond teaching children, our FIE staff also help transform the culture of food in schools by forming healthy living committees among teachers and staff - and it's working! Many of our partners report a significant change in attitudes and personal choices to foster a healthier lifestyle in their schools.
Once the food culture in a school has turned in favor of healthy foods, helping schools to transform their cafeterias is the next step on this path. Our team is leading on this front and will consult with any school that is interested in bringing fresh foods into their cafeteria. Our relationships with local farmers gives us a unique opportunity to insure that this fresh, healthy food as local as possible!
